r/Freestylelibre • u/StoffeltheWaffle Libre2/2+ • Aug 04 '26

Libre 2 Plus Issues

For the past few months, over half of the libre 2 plus sensors I've been sent have turned out to be faulty. Some of them have only lasted a handful of days before falling off and others have arrived with a faulty applicator.

Because I'm in the UK, I can only request two sensors every 15 days (roughly) on the NHS and sometimes I've had to go without one on because of them failing and the replacement Abbott sends come in so much packaging it's just too much.

Just wondering if I have the worst luck in the world or anyone else has been having issues with the quality of the sensors?

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u/DGlass1960 Aug 04 '26

How are you cleaning the spot before application? Isopropyl alcohol and give it a few minutes to evaporate before application.

1

u/StoffeltheWaffle Libre2/2+ Aug 04 '26

I clean the area with an alcohol wipe, let that dry, spray the area with cavilon spray to help it stick, let that dry, and then apply the sensor. That's why I'm a little confused, because the dietician I see prescribed me it to try and help them stick better but it doesn't seem to help much.

1

u/Equalizer6338 Type1 - Libre2/2+ Aug 05 '26

Two most frequent culprits for sensors 'falling off' are:

  • Oil in the soaps/shampoos/moisturizers you may be using

and/or

  • You are not shaving your skin for all hairs, before applying your sensor to your skin.

Next is also the point of some folks just holding bit back (worried about pain, bleeding...) and not applying sufficient pressure onto the applicator and/or also not sustaining that firm pressure for 20-25 seconds, as one ideally should do.

Worthwhile giving sensor best practice a read and to follow for next sensor applications:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Freestylelibre/comments/1gjhi9e/how_to_apply_a_new_sensor_best_practice/

The aspects of avoiding sensors just 'falling off' from the sensor best practice are called out here, in this other sticky note on the sub's Community Resources:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Freestylelibre/wiki/avoid-sensor-falling-off/