What does the Freestyle Libre 2 tell you?

The Freestyle Libre 2 gives you much more insight into your blood glucose levels and can help you with your overall diabetes management. In the video below, some people with diabetes that use the Libre talk about their own experiences with it:

Benefits of the Freestyle Libre

• Instant glucose reading when you scan the sensor
• Trend arrows show you if your glucose levels are stationary or going up or down, and how fast
• Latest 8 hours of continuous glucose data
• A range of reports allows you to look at your data over longer periods which can help you determine patterns and help you in making decisions about how you manage your diabetes
• You can set reminders, alerts and add notes
• The option to share your glucose readings with your family or friends and healthcare professionals through LibreLinkUp and LibreView

Key points of the Freestyle Libre

• A sensor lasts 14 days – the sensor’s adhesive is strong, and knocking it off is difficult. Care should be taken to not loosen the sensor or catch it on furniture, especially door frames
• The sensor is water-resistant in up to 1 metre (3 feet) of water for a maximum of 30 minutes
• You can scan the sensor through clothes
• The Libre should not be used above 10,000 feet altitude
• The handset can capture data from the sensor when it is within 1 cm to 4 cm of the sensor
• For a complete picture of blood glucose levels, the sensor should be scanned at least once every 8 hours. Most people will want to scan more often anyway – at least 8 times a day is recommended

How often do you need to scan?

• Minimum 8 times per day, including pre-meal, 2 hours post-meal, pre-bed, both pre and post and sometimes during exercise, before driving and every 2 hours whilst driving
• If you think you are having a hypo or are at risk of a hypo
• Scanning after eating certain foods gives you a better understanding of how they affect your blood glucose levels
• Frequent scanning has been shown to improve HbA1c levels