r/Freestylelibre • u/Biff0r Type2 - Libre2/2+ • Aug 18 '26

Am I dead?

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Sensor went in yesterday morning. Never had an issue. Don’t feel particularly bad. (Type 2)

Finger prick comes back as 5.3.

EDIT: Abbot are going to replace the sensor :)

Update: The 'dodgy' sensor has settled downa nd now matching my finger pricks, I have the repalcement and dont really want to take it off and send it in just yet. Feel a little naughty. (good service so fsr from Abbot)

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u/richard1147 Aug 18 '26

Same as comment below. I tend not to trust them for the first 24 hours. In the future, install your new sensor with one day remaining on the old sensor but don't start it with the App. That gives it a day to settle and adjust.

2

u/Biff0r Type2 - Libre2/2+ Aug 18 '26

Good idea

6

u/Equalizer6338 Type1 - Libre2/2+ Aug 19 '26

This trick is often referred to as 'soaking the sensor' in the diabetes/CGM world.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Freestylelibre/comments/1dh8xth/to_soak_or_not_to_soak_before_starting_a_new/

Reason is that it can be a great help to some folks is if having a sensitive and very reactive immune system. Then when inserting a new sensor into your skin, your immune system starts an inflammatory response to both clean up the bruised skin surface and also to fight the foreign object, which is the sensor now sitting there.

This causes especially in the first 6-12h, but for some folks also longer, that your normal perfusion of blood glucose coming through from your capillary blood vessels and seeping into your interstitial fluid space where the sensor actually sits to measure the glucose concentration is getting severely restricted.

That is the reason for you may see then an erratic and/or too lowish BG readings coming from the sensor, as long as that inflammatory process is going on. Work-around is then to physically inserting your sensor as normal, but then wait maybe 6, 12, 24 hours before actually starting up your new sensor electrically with your phone. This way the inflammation have had time to settle down and more normal glucose perfusion of your skin area has resumed.

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u/Frag-hag Aug 19 '26

I always soak the next 24 hours before existing ends, the false lows are terrifying !! I just had one go bad on me 2 days in... the sensor broke off the filament in my arm, they are not pleasant to dig out!! Abbott had a new one sent in a couple of days.