FreeStyle Libre 3 : The worlds smallest sensor

I have a cat with diabetes and these monitors have been very useful in helping to calibrate the correct dose.

For a product so expensive the performance is AWFUL. It’s fairly easy to set up though terrifying when you first get it out the pack, I was nervous to put this in but honestly you can’t feel a thing which is super surprising because I’m normally a big baby when it comes to things like this. The idea with the app and everything is great but unfortunately the performance doesn’t hold up. This product is supposed to last you 14 days mine stopped working after 2, if you look online there is several people who have the same issue consistently and the company apparently is very good at replacing dodgy sensors but in all honesty I don’t really wanna use the product again after my experience. I set the low glucose alarm to go off when I was below 3.9 mmmol/L and it was beeping at me so many times throughout the day leading to me freaking out, I’d then check with a traditional monitor and it would be completely fine. It would also say low the alarm would go off then I’d check on the app and within a few minutes that low reading would completely disappear and it would show as 4.8 or 5.0 or something within the range which I found odd. If you need to wear a CGM it is obviously important you get accurate results, you don’t with this product so it is not worth the money. I also had weird pains throughout my left arm whilst wearing this that disappeared after I removed it, sure this could be placebo but honestly I wasn’t bothered by its presence at all so I’m not so sure. I had pulsating and aches like I had never experienced it was very strange, it could be possible that I had poked it on a nerve and there is also the possibility of the EMF from the product effecting me in some way as it is over the safe recommendation.

I never write reviews, I think it’s a highly altruistic thing to do, but never have the time or inclination. However, this item has quite literally changed my life as it has given me an insight into the inside workings of my body. I am a doctor myself, but being pre diabetic for years, I was unable to get my GP to prescribe me Metformin, been told that it is not licensed for prediabetes. I’m not obese but I am south Asian, and the criteria for obesity have been adjusted to 23.5. None of this was taken into account by my GP Surgery. I started to have macular degeneration, and risk losing vision, due to ongoing damage from pre-diabetes, yet the NHS will not prescribe what is known through research and the diabetes prevention study, as effective preventative treatment. This gadget give me enough insight into my blood sugar profile to actually have the confidence to fight my own battle and get the prescription for preventative treatment that I should have been known for years. It has also helped me manage my diet and lifestyle more efficiently. So this is not just for insulin dependent diabetics, it is a useful gadget for anybody with some background clinical knowledge. Also for those who want to understand their inside workings is better.

I was slightly nervous about buying this, having read some negative reviews here about sensor failures, but I ordered, it arrived, and it worked flawlessly for the full 14 days. So I did not need to check out the after-sales service. I bought some waterproof plasters on Amazon and used one to protect it when showering, so maybe that helped. The sensor was easy to setup and worked fine with my Pixel 8. I don't have, nor am I worried about, diabetes; I am only interested in monitoring my blood sugar levels from a self-care point of view. The app gave me a GMI score of someone who is pre-diabetic, but reading online indicated that this is misleading for someone who has not been officially diagnosed with diabetes. It was fascinating to watch how my blood sugar level reacted to the various foods I consumed over the two weeks.

I’ve been using the Libre 3 for about 4 months now and when it works it is fantastic and really helps with my control, however it is extremely expensive and very unreliable, I’ve only had 1 sensor that’s worked a full 14 days. Some are losing connection several times a day even though my phone is constantly by my side, others fail after only half their lifespan. Considering the high price this is not acceptable. They really need to sort out the quality issues, if they do then this device would be a great help to type 2 sufferers like me.