Freestyle Libre: How to measure sugar without stinging
With diabetes, regular sugar measurement is essential. Freestyle Libre offers diabetics the option of monitoring blood sugar levels without stinging using flash glucose monitoring. You can find out how this works here.
Freestyle Libre - measure blood sugar without stinging
The Freestyle Libre flash glucose measurement system has several advantages for diabetics compared to conventional blood glucose measurement methods. However, Freestyle Libre also has one or two disadvantages. Measured by the advantages of the flash glucose measuring system, the disadvantages are relatively minor.
- In contrast to most other blood glucose monitoring systems, the glucose monitoring in the subcutaneous fat tissue is measured during flash glucose monitoring. One of the greatest advantages of this measurement variant is undoubtedly that there is no annoying pricking in the fingertip.
- Freestyle Libre uses a sensor to determine the tissue sugar in the subcutaneous fat. The small circular sensor is attached to the upper arm. It has a diameter of 35 millimeters and is 5 millimeters high. It is barely noticeable under one sleeve.
- An algorithm is implanted in the sensor, which automatically converts the determined glucose values from the intercellular fluid. Thus, the values are largely identical to your actual blood sugar values.
- It becomes a little more difficult if your blood sugar level suddenly rises or falls suddenly. The time delay with which Freestyle Libre displays your current blood sugar level can be between five and ten minutes. For this reason, you should also have a conventional blood glucose meter on hand for emergencies.
- By the way: Many health insurance companies have now recognized flash glucose monitoring and are contributing to the costs.
Check blood glucose data with the flash glucose measuring system
You attach the Freestyle Libre sensor to the upper arm yourself. With the help of an applicator, the sensor is placed about 5 millimeters below the skin. With a little practice, attaching the sensor takes only a short moment. And you will soon have practice, because you have to replace the sensor regularly every 14 days. If you have problems attaching the sensor, the Freestyle Libre customer service will help you.
- After you have attached the sensor to your upper arm, Freestyle Libre will automatically measure the sugar for you. The sensor continuously updates your glucose value every few minutes. However, the measured and converted sugar values are only saved by the sensor for eight hours.
- In order to save the data of your sugar level for longer, you should briefly hold the freestyle reader to the sensor at least every seven hours. The process only takes a few seconds and you don't usually have to roll up your sleeve.
- The reader saved the measured sugar values for up to 90 days. It also provides you with numerous analyzes. This also includes a diagram with a trend arrow, which you can use to clearly see the sugar level over the past eight hours.
- In addition to the reader, you have a second option to retrieve your sugar level data from the sensor, Freestyle Libre provides you with an app for your smartphone. The Freestyle Libre app is available for both iOS and Android systems. We describe in detail how to download and set up the Freestyle Libre app in a separate article.
- If you create a customer account with Freestyle Libre, you can also save your data there and share it with your doctor if you wish.
How you download and set up the Freestyle Libre app is described in detail in the next post.