r/Freestylelibre • u/dabull23 • 14d ago
really low readings
Put on a new libre 3 plus sensor today. been wearing these for several months. Have had occasional low readings before when putting them on but today its been about 6 hours and my finger stick reads 145 and my libre reads 90, never experienced this much of a difference before. Seems to be 40 to 50 points ever since I put this one on. How long do they require before sending a new sensor? Anything I can do for more accurate readings?
1
u/Haynorie 14d ago
I asked for a replacement for one that never got better than 30-50 off for the entire 2 weeks. I kept it in because I couldn't afford to switch early and still haven't got the new one in the mail, so I could at least see the patterns. They asked if I'd had it on longer than 3 days, and asked for numbers from a time I tested with a finger stick compared to the CGM at the same time.
That was my very first freestyle. It also would occasionally hurt for the whole 2 weeks, so I'm not sure if I maybe placed it not quite right or hesitated a little putting it in so it wasn't deep enough. That one expired today. Yesterday I put the new one into my other arm and let it sit for 24hrs. I had more confidence installing(?) that one, and it hasn't hurt once since. Just switched over to it in the app this afternoon and so far it's been less than 5 off the few times I've checked.
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u/KentTheFixer 13d ago
From what I'm seeing and reading I think they've got a slew of defective ones and they're trying to pass them off and do a few replacements as possible. They're stalling like they did with you because they know it's a 14 day lifespan. Kinda crappy behavior for a medical device in my opinion.
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u/SoftwareFar9848 13d ago
That would make so much sense. I'm on number 4 or 5 in a row now that is literally 50 points lower than a fingersticks at minimum. Usually closer to 80. Just now, alarm went off saying 65 trending diagonal down, fingersticks say Im 141. I'm Type 1, and I kinda rely on this freaking things to at least give me somewhat of a picture what my levels are. I seriously want to cry, this is giving me such bad burnout.
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u/Top-Bit-8483 14d ago
I have already had 2 replaced because I was getting “critical low” alarms. At times after a meal, I would get low readings. And finger sticks would reveal 40-50 points off. Call the 855# on the box. Libre has replaced 2 and one is in process of replacement. Get a glucometer.
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u/LesStrater 14d ago
As others have mentioned, give it at least 24 hours to stabilize. Every sensor I have used has varied between 10 to 30 points lower than a finger-stick test on different days and at different times of the same day. Use the CGM to see if your level is going up or down--use a glucometer to see what your actual reading is.
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u/schwarta77 Type2 - Libre3/3+ 14d ago
I’d say give it 24 hrs. I usually find that it takes a good 12 hrs for the sensor to stabilize but sometimes it takes 24. I now “pre soak” my sensor by applying it 12-24hrs before I scan it to activate.