Libre Tester

[DianeN]

Hi all and thank you for reading my post. I have a sugar baby who I test with a ReLion meter. It's difficult for me to test her everyday and I can only use one ear due to her other ear being short from a feral ear tip. That's a longer story - this morning she was kind of low - I will be retesting her in an hour. I wondered if having a Libre Freestyle might be the way to go - with a few exceptions - cost - and the fact that I understand you have to use a glucose meter every so often reguardless. I also understand from another group that the vet glue is not the way to go - skin irritation - is there another suggestion - you may have a file that can answer all these questions but I have not located it. Thank you in advance. Diane

 

[squeem3]

Read this Getting Started With Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) for Diabetic Cats

And this for a Libre coupon Freestyle Libre CGM Abbott Coupon $19.99 Each!!! Please Read

 

[DianeN]

Read this Getting Started With Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) for Diabetic Cats

And this for a Libre coupon Freestyle Libre CGM Abbott Coupon $19.99 Each!!! Please Read

Thank you - I am reading all the information and trying to digetst - you change out something every 14 days right? What do you think the average cost is per month for the changing out and anything else ? Thanks in advance. I would have asked this question before but just started the videos.

 

[squeem3]

I don't use a CGM but other members do. @Staci & Ivy @Brianna & Xander @Madeline528 @Allie & Gen @Lauren & Esse

 

[Lauren & Esse]

What do you think the average cost is per month for the changing out and anything else ?

I probably spent about $50 upfront to buy the supplies needed to apply and replace them like an electric trimmer, SkinTac wipes, Brava spray, etc. Once you get all that stuff it should last you a long time. The article linked above says what you need.

The sensors themselves we get from Costco for $35 each, and we go through 2-3 a month since not all of them make it the full two weeks. I think without the Costco member discount the sensors would be about $80.

We also use adhesive patches from TypeOneStyle to cover the sensors and help them stay on, those I buy ~10 at a time for $4 each but there are other, cheaper options available.

So maybe $100 a month is a realistic estimate for what we pay?

 

[DianeN]

Thank you

 

[Madeline528]

Libre 3+ sensor at Walgreens and with the GoodRx coupon, each sensor cost about $40. I use Skin Tac wipes (box 50 wipes) $14.98 on Amazon. Butch wears a t-shirt which keeps him from removing his sensor. I find olive oil and Q-Tip works best for us to remove his old sensor so there is no extra cost.

Mostly $85.00 monthly for the 2 sensors

 

[DianeN]

Thank you

 

[Allie & Gen]

I paid about $55 for the trimmer I picked out, Skin-Tac wipes and Brava spray together. (Alcohol wipes are pretty cheap!) I've had bad luck getting discounts on the sensors, which have been $77-89 apiece from various pharmacies. (I'm trying to figure out a way to fix that, because it's unsustainable for me). I think there may be some kind of state-based pricing that I'm running into though I'm not sure. (I live in Massachusetts.)

I have my cat wearing a Kitty Holster brand harness (the kind you can use with a leash) over his Libre, and it seems to be working very well to stop him from ripping it off (which he did at least once when he was just in a loose shirt). It doesn't need anything to help keep it stuck to him as long as I shave well (and presumably the Skin-Tac wipes help, though I haven't tried going without).

I can attest to surgical glue/vetbond being a bad idea! My vet used it initially, and it seemed to interfere with the signal from the sensor in some way, as well as irritating his skin and not coming off easily (the sensor came off, but left glue behind even when I used both coconut oil and Brava spray). The sensors I've applied myself, without the glue (just shave + alcohol wipe + Skin-Tac) have worked well.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Hi Diane, you’ve been given excellent information above. When you get a chance, read through all of the information provided, as we’ve put together a pretty thorough document with lots of good information on using a Libre with your cat.

One other thing I would mention would be to use a Libre 3 plus sensor, as it can scan and send all of the glucose data from the sensor to your mobile phone through an app and you can see at all times what is happening 24/7.
And you don’t have to physically scan your cat’s sensor, which I found to be a total pain, and unless you do that physical scan, you don’t know what’s going on.

Be sure to check Abbott’s website for a compatible phone that you will need to leave at home with your cat which reads the sensor via Bluetooth and sends the data from their phone to yours.
(The phone you leave with your cat at home needs to be within 33 feet of your cat to read and send the data.)
The phone a one time expense, but you do not need service on it, and it can be an older phone. If you have an older phone, or you know someone who has one that they are no longer using and it is compatible, that would be ideal.
Or you can find an inexpensive phone to purchase.

If you have any questions, please feel free to let any of us know and we are happy to help

 

[DianeN]

Hi Diane, you’ve been given excellent information above. When you get a chance, read through all of the information provided, as we’ve put together a pretty thorough document with lots of good information on using a Libre with your cat.

One other thing I would mention would be to use a Libre 3 plus sensor, as it can scan and send all of the glucose data from the sensor to your mobile phone through an app and you can see at all times what is happening 24/7.
And you don’t have to physically scan your cat’s sensor, which I found to be a total pain, and unless you do that physical scan, you don’t know what’s going on.

Be sure to check Abbott’s website for a compatible phone that you will need to leave at home with your cat which reads the sensor via Bluetooth and sends the data from their phone to yours.
(The phone you leave with your cat at home needs to be within 33 feet of your cat to read and send the data.)
The phone a one time expense, but you do not need service on it, and it can be an older phone. If you have an older phone, or you know someone who has one that they are no longer using and it is compatible, that would be ideal.
Or you can find an inexpensive phone to purchase.

If you have any questions, please feel free to let any of us know and we are happy to help

Excellent info thanks to you all

 

[DianeN]

Hi Diane, you’ve been given excellent information above. When you get a chance, read through all of the information provided, as we’ve put together a pretty thorough document with lots of good information on using a Libre with your cat.

One other thing I would mention would be to use a Libre 3 plus sensor, as it can scan and send all of the glucose data from the sensor to your mobile phone through an app and you can see at all times what is happening 24/7.
And you don’t have to physically scan your cat’s sensor, which I found to be a total pain, and unless you do that physical scan, you don’t know what’s going on.

Be sure to check Abbott’s website for a compatible phone that you will need to leave at home with your cat which reads the sensor via Bluetooth and sends the data from their phone to yours.
(The phone you leave with your cat at home needs to be within 33 feet of your cat to read and send the data.)
The phone a one time expense, but you do not need service on it, and it can be an older phone. If you have an older phone, or you know someone who has one that they are no longer using and it is compatible, that would be ideal.
Or you can find an inexpensive phone to purchase.

If you have any questions, please feel free to let any of us know and we are happy to help

Thank you so much!

 

[DianeN]

Excellent info thanks to you all

Hi Diane, you’ve been given excellent information above. When you get a chance, read through all of the information provided, as we’ve put together a pretty thorough document with lots of good information on using a Libre with your cat.

One other thing I would mention would be to use a Libre 3 plus sensor, as it can scan and send all of the glucose data from the sensor to your mobile phone through an app and you can see at all times what is happening 24/7.
And you don’t have to physically scan your cat’s sensor, which I found to be a total pain, and unless you do that physical scan, you don’t know what’s going on.

Be sure to check Abbott’s website for a compatible phone that you will need to leave at home with your cat which reads the sensor via Bluetooth and sends the data from their phone to yours.
(The phone you leave with your cat at home needs to be within 33 feet of your cat to read and send the data.)
The phone a one time expense, but you do not need service on it, and it can be an older phone. If you have an older phone, or you know someone who has one that they are no longer using and it is compatible, that would be ideal.
Or you can find an inexpensive phone to purchase.

If you have any questions, please feel free to let any of us know and we are happy to help

Yay thank you

 

[Blitzy's Mom]

I probably spent about $50 upfront to buy the supplies needed to apply and replace them like an electric trimmer, SkinTac wipes, Brava spray, etc. Once you get all that stuff it should last you a long time. The article linked above says what you need.

The sensors themselves we get from Costco for $35 each, and we go through 2-3 a month since not all of them make it the full two weeks. I think without the Costco member discount the sensors would be about $80.

We also use adhesive patches from TypeOneStyle to cover the sensors and help them stay on, those I buy ~10 at a time for $4 each but there are other, cheaper options available.

So maybe $100 a month is a realistic estimate for what we pay?

Thank you! Looks like I'm going to be getting a Costco membership. This justifies it. I will look into those adhesive patches. I like him to be able to keep the sensors on if possible. I'm also thinking about getting him a little sweater or something like that so that he is not tempted to lick them off.

 

[Allie & Gen]

Thank you! Looks like I'm going to be getting a Costco membership. This justifies it. I will look into those adhesive patches. I like him to be able to keep the sensors on if possible. I'm also thinking about getting him a little sweater or something like that so that he is not tempted to lick them off.

I have to warn you ... I got a Costco membership based on recommendations here, but when I went there last week, they charged me more than twice what others here have paid. At the time, I didn't have the time or energy to try and argue, but I'm planning to call their customer service after the holidays to try to get to the bottom of it. It may be state-based pricing, though I'm hoping it might be a mistake.

 

[Blitzy's Mom]

I have to warn you ... I got a Costco membership based on recommendations here, but when I went there last week, they charged me more than twice what others here have paid. At the time, I didn't have the time or energy to try and argue, but I'm planning to call their customer service after the holidays to try to get to the bottom of it. It may be state-based pricing, though I'm hoping it might be a mistake.

Wow, thank you for the heads up! I will do a little research before I go ahead and join up.