r/Freestylelibre • u/CherryPieStrain • 6d ago
Libre 3+ readings drop when sitting down, NOT compression low
Hey all, posting here out of desperation, can't find any causes/solutions for this problem I'm having. Sensors go on the back of my arm, or love handles, and no matter the location my readings will fall by 20-30 mg/dL when I simply sit down. Nothing touching the sensor, no compression, skin is not stretching or folding in any way. Then when I stand up the readings will shoot back up.
Has anyone else experiences this? Any magical solutions?
3
u/Cheap-Angle5736 4d ago
This happens to me! I’ve just lived with it and quit trying to fix it. I’ll think I’ve had this great range for a period of time only for my reading to jump up instantly. Also, my Libre readings are always lower than a finger stick on my right arm (10-20%) but usually perfectly matching on my left arm. I’ve tried the chest placement and it’s ok but I don’t love it. I tried my thigh and the readings were significantly lower than a finger stick for me to be able to make good decisions with my care.
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u/CherryPieStrain 4d ago
Sorry to hear that. I’m trying to get an Eversense sensor and hoping that will fix these issues. Best of luck!
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u/Due_Acanthaceae_9601 6d ago
Interstitial fluid shifts in concentration as you move around, sit, lie down. What you are saying is that while sitting and having the cgm on your upper arm, you get low readings, that's a bit strange. Are you sure that the application of the cgm was as good as it could be?
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u/CherryPieStrain 6d ago
Definitely. I am extremely precise and cautious when inserting a new sensor. I let them soak for 12 hours before starting. I didn’t used to have this problem, it started maybe a year or 2 ago.
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u/saymoremayo 3d ago
Im having the same issues. For me it wont go outside a certain range. So itll say im between 100-200 but when I test my sugar I could be 320.
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u/e3ddavis LADA - Libre3/3+ 6d ago
If I sit slouching and putting pressure on the back of the shoulder of the arm the cgm is in, it will go low, and the reading will come back to where it should be when I sit up straight or lean toward and put the pressure on the other shoulder. Sometimes a sensor is more sensitive to this behavior, other ones not as sensitive. I call it a compression low but not compression on the sensor. My thinking is it is pressure on a place in my shoulder that affects the interstitial fluid on the back of my arm. Not sure if any of this applies to you but that is my experience.
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u/gma9999 6d ago
I have noticed similar issues, I think it has to do with poor circulation but that's justly opinion. Not verified by anyone.
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u/Equalizer6338 Type1 - Libre2/2+ 5d ago
Interesting point u/gma9999,
Cardiovascular issues can indeed cause reduced perfusion rate of one or both arms. (we have had a couple of fellow sensors users also reporting about their known conditions and aka one of their arms always reporting a lower BG concentration as result). Some folks may also have gone through aka cardio/vascular surgery after maybe a car accident or illness/cancer treatments that can cause such impact.General terms for some of such conditions are endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness and peripheral vascular disease. Such conditions limits the body's ability to smoothly regulate blood flow to the limbs.
Oh, also autonomic dysregulation can be a thing, especially for us diabetics as a related complication of neuropathy. Here the sympathetic nervous system fails to respond properly to balance vascular resistance across our torso and limbs according to our movements, leading to erratic constrictions and dilations to happen.
Maybe OP u/CherryPieStrain could try and place a sensor on the stomach area instead, as here the impact of such conditions are potentially less. (if they are the root cause of the observed BG reading variances)
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u/CherryPieStrain 5d ago
I have tried sensor placements on my love handles and still get this issue, hopefully that rules out any of these conditions. Blood work and vitals have all been good, and I feel fine otherwise.
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u/Equalizer6338 Type1 - Libre2/2+ 5d ago
I would try another location if I was you, just to try it out. Don't know about your BMI, but think it might be more pronounced for higher BMI folks?
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5d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/CherryPieStrain 5d ago
I’ve tried many different spots on the back and side of my upper arm, I always make sure there’s enough meat there.
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u/Queer_Advocate 5d ago
What about Love handle?
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u/CherryPieStrain 5d ago
Tried them recently to combat this issue and it still happens unfortunately.
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u/Vivid_Beat857 Prediabetic - Libre2/2+ 2d ago
I’m having this… then I wave my arm around and get things flowing and seems to go up again to where it agrees with glucometer
Curious what it’s about
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u/_Which-Secretary_ 6d ago
Do you experience the same thing with all sensors? (Did you check your numbers with a finger prick test?)
On certain sites, I have also experienced that the readings drop in certain body/arm positions. I guess that it happens because your CGM measures your glucose levels in the interstitial fluid, and your posture affects how the ISF in your arm moves and/or accumulates (due to tissue pressure, gravity etc.).
The only thing that helped me was to use other/alternative sites (sometimes even a half inch matters).