Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Abbott, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and ever since I first opened up about my journey , this topic has remained one of the strongest areas of connection between my readers and I. My journey of self love and acceptance has helped to inspire others to live and thrive with diabetes. Now, I want to share one of the diabetes management tools that has transformed my everyday life –
I started using the FreeStyle Libre 14 day system in March 2020 after seeing commercials on TV, before switching over to the FreeStyle Libre 2 system in October. They share many of the same benefits, but thereâs a huge new feature â optional real-time glucose alarms* â which let you know when your glucose is too high or too lowâ .
What is the FreeStyle Libre 2 System?
The FreeStyle Libre 2 system is a continuous glucose monitoring system indicated for people with diabetes ages 4 and older. In terms of diabetes management, whatâs great is that it allows me to track my glucose levels without causing a huge disruption to my daily activities! Instead of having to pull out lancets to fingerstickâ¡ at the dinner table, now I can simply scan my sensor for an accurate, up-to-the-minute reading1.
How Do You Apply The Sensor?
Speaking of the sensor, you apply it every 14 days to the back of your upper arm. Itâs the easiest CGM sensor to apply§2. There are two components to the sensor (the applicator and the sensor housing unit) and they are packaged separately. To apply and get it to stick, you:
- Wash, Clean, Dry:
- Select a site on the back of your upper arm that stays flat during normal activity.
- Clean skin with non-moisturizing, fragrance-free soap and water.
- Use an alcohol wipe to disinfect the skin and let air dry before proceeding.
- Prep the applicator:
- Open the sensor by peeling back the lid.
- Unscrew cap from the sensor applicator.
- Line up marks on the sensor applicator.
- Press down firmly and then lift.
- Apply the sensor!
- Apply the sensor to the back of your upper arm by pressing firmly.
- Listen for the click.
- Wait 30 seconds and pull back slowly, leaving the sensor on the skin.
And did I mention that the sensor is painless||3?! Most of the time, I don’t even feel the filament going into my skin. Plus, you only have to apply a new sensor once every 14 days. Compare that one-time application to the 3-time daily finger-pricking I was doing before, and you can see why I love my FreeStyle Libre 2 system!
Why Should You Try the FreeStyle Libre 2 System?
Did you know that frequent scanning is tied to better glucose control and more time in range||4? After all, knowledge is power! The number of times that I scan my FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor versus how often I used to finger prick is like night and day: I now find myself checking my glucose levels every few hours to get all those real-time insights, while before, I would sometimes even go a few days (and to be honest, sometimes weeks) between readings.
And better yet, the FreeStyle Libre 2 system features real-time optional glucose alarms*, which let me know when my glucose is too high or too lowâ . You can turn the three alarms â high glucose, low glucose and signal loss â on or off individually, but I like to keep mine on!
I like to think of these alarms as a sort of push notification for my body â a reminder of what’s going on so I can react accordingly. Finger-pricking gives you the choice to tune out from your care whereas the FreeStyle Libre 2 system gently beeps me into being more mindful and on top of my diabetes management.
And rest assured: the FreeStyle Libre 2 system doesnât just track when you scan, it gets a reading every minute â 5x more than other CGMs2,5! And we all know that when it comes to diabetes, a lot can happen in a minute! The reader stores up to 90 days of glucose data so I can see my patterns and historic trends, which helps me to better focus on staying in my target glucose range, and ultimately improve my A1c6! Once again, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!
What Can You Do With the FreeStyle Libre 2?
Honestly? Anything! The beauty of my FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor is that itâs small, discreet and comfortable||3. Using it to stay on top of my glucose levels doesnât stop me from doing the things Iâd be doing anyways.I model in glamorous gowns, , watch Netflix and even swim!
You heard me right; swim! The FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor is water-resistant in up to 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. This makes it perfect for a quick dip in the hot tub, a relaxing day at the pool and, of course, daily showers/baths!
An added plus: the sensor is small, 1/3 less bulky than other CGM sensors§2, so I honestly forget that itâs there and can wear pretty much any# fabulous outfit that I want! My best piece of advice though is to be careful with clothing straps. Putting on and taking off sports bras is where I usually need to be particularly mindful!
Final Thoughts
Iâm proud to be a lot of things, including a member of #TeamFreeStyleLibre! Iâm proud to not consider my diabetes as a death sentence, but rather as a new chapter in my life. Iâm proud to be doing all the same things I did before I was diagnosed, if not even more so to be honest!
Having tools like the FreeStyle Libre 2 system gives me peace of mind and empowers me to, proudly, live my best life while managing my diabetes.
Have more questions about using the FreeStyle Libre 2 system? Let me know in the comments below!
Disclaimers/References:
*Notifications will only be received when alarms are turned on and the sensor is within 20 feet of the reading device.
â Alarm notifications depend on the threshold set by the user.
â¡ Fingersticks are required if your glucose alarms and readings do not match symptoms or when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol during the first 12 hours.
- Based on a comparison to Dexcom G6.
||Data from this study was collected with the outside US version of the FreeStyle Libre 14 day system. FreeStyle Libre 2 has the same features as FreeStyle Libre 14 day system with optional real-timeglucose alarms. Therefore the study data is applicable to both products.
¶Sensor is water-resistant in up to 1 meter (3 feet) of water. Do not immerse longer than 30 minutes.
#The reader can capture data from the sensor when it is within 1cm to 4cm of the sensor
- FreeStyle Libre 2 Userâs Manual.
- Data on file. Abbott Diabetes Care.
- Haak, Thomas, et al. “Flash Glucose-Sensing Technology as a Replacement for Blood Glucose Monitoring for the Management of Insulin-treated Type 2 Diabetes: a Multicentre, Open-label Randomised Controlled Trial.” Diabetes Therapy 8, no. 1 (February 2017): 55-73. DOI: 10.1007/s13300-016-0223-6.
- Dunn, Timothy C., et al. “Real-world flash glucose monitoring patterns and associations between self-monitoring frequency and glycemic measures: A European analysis of over 60 million glucose tests.” Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice 137, no. 37 (March 2018) 37-46. DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2017.12.015.
- Dexcom G6 CGM User Guide.
- Vigersky, Robert, and Chantal McMahan. “The Relationship of Hemoglobin A1c to Time-in-Range in Patients with Diabetes.” Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics 21, no. 2 (February 2019): 81-85. DOI: 10.1089/dia.2018.0310.
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