Continuous Glucose Monitors - Libre 3 / Lingo

[netix]

Currently looking at a few different CGMs on the market. Does anyone have experience with both the FreeStyle Libre 3 and the Lingo? How did they compare for you and was there anything you liked about one vs the other?
Any other brands you recommend I research further?

 

[netix]

Nobody has tried both?

What about the Stelo? Was also looking at this option, seems like it has outperformed and has less failed sensors than the Lingo. The size of the sensors on the Stelo are inline with current generation whereas the Lingo seems to use a gen1 Libre sensor.

 

[j2048b]

I had libre 3 plus and now have the dexecom stelo… about to put it on here in a day or 2…


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[j2048b]

Ive had 2 failed libre 3 + and had to tear them off and toss em… pisses me off because i paid a lot of my own money even after insurance…


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[netix]

I had libre 3 plus and now have the dexecom stelo… about to put it on here in a day or 2…

Thanks @j2048b, let me know what you think of the stelo after you have had some more time with it.

Ive had 2 failed libre 3 + and had to tear them off and toss em… pisses me off because i paid a lot of my own money even after insurance…

This is one of my concerns. Ins will not cover this for me so was going to use GoodRx and they were still pricey. Started going down the OTC options as the sensor cost is less but wanted to ensure they still reported correct and didn't have high failure rate because they are OTC.

 

[RandomLifter]

Have used Stelo successfully and unsuccessfully

Those little tiny needles aren’t made for men with “larger than normal” (not saying much) muscle/fat ratio.

 

[Syntha Claus]

I have only used what is available in Mexico, the Freestyle Libre, which I think is a Gen 1 Freestyle.
I still loved the info I got from it. I learned to never worry about my body processing carbs. At least for now.

I will say that mine fall off in a week or less. I started using "rock tape" over them. I still have had them stop working only to discover I bent the needle under my skin somehow.

 

[netix]

I have only used what is available in Mexico, the Freestyle Libre, which I think is a Gen 1 Freestyle.
I still loved the info I got from it. I learned to never worry about my body processing carbs. At least for now.

I will say that mine fall off in a week or less. I started using "rock tape" over them. I still have had them stop working only to discover I bent the needle under my skin somehow.

Thanks for the feedback @Syntha Claus! Seems like a common issue with them falling off.

 

[Syntha Claus]

Thanks for the feedback @Syntha Claus! Seems like a common issue with them falling off.

I think if you are a 300lb Jabba, there is not really anything you can do that will cause it to fall off. Like a quarter lying on soft. disgusting pillow. Not stuck to a granite hard jacked muscle.

 

[RandomLifter]

I have only used what is available in Mexico, the Freestyle Libre, which I think is a Gen 1 Freestyle.
I still loved the info I got from it. I learned to never worry about my body processing carbs. At least for now.

I will say that mine fall off in a week or less. I started using "rock tape" over them. I still have had them stop working only to discover I bent the needle under my skin somehow.

This is EXACTLY what happens to me

The last go round I was given a gift in that my Glucose numbers were PERFECT. Then about 4 days into it, it @died.

 

[j2048b]

Thanks @j2048b, let me know what you think of the stelo after you have had some more time with it.


This is one of my concerns. Ins will not cover this for me so was going to use GoodRx and they were still pricey. Started going down the OTC options as the sensor cost is less but wanted to ensure they still reported correct and didn't have high failure rate because they are OTC.

If ur w costco member… u sign up to sesame thru costco snd choose w doc who has diabetus listed, tell them u were previously diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia, and then go to the libre website wnd download their coupon and present that to costco… should drop the price cheaper than cash but still maybe up there a bit in pricing

 

[j2048b]

I think if you are a 300lb Jabba, there is not really anything you can do that will cause it to fall off. Like a quarter lying on soft. disgusting pillow. Not stuck to a granite hard jacked muscle.

I bought the stixkers that cover the thing and never had any issue with them falling off… now tho i will say 2 of them didnt work snd wouldnt sync so i had to rip em off wnd throw them out… i may call insurance and try and get 2 for that reason

 

[j2048b]

Have used Stelo successfully and unsuccessfully

Those little tiny needles aren’t made for men with “larger than normal” (not saying much) muscle/fat ratio.

They end up hurting my entire arm after being in for a while especially after getting a pump and trying to lift heavy at all… and then my arm hurts like a mofo for a bit and i end up tearing it out and my arm gets relief

 

[thebiggestdumbass]

I’m pretty damn lean on the tricep where they recommend placing them and the last time I used one there must not have been enough fat cause the CGM was consistently about 20 points higher than my bg meter.

Other than that the dexacom I used was solid but I’d still rather finger prick

 

[netix]

If ur w costco member… u sign up to sesame thru costco snd choose w doc who has diabetus listed, tell them u were previously diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia, and then go to the libre website wnd download their coupon and present that to costco… should drop the price cheaper than cash but still maybe up there a bit in pricing

@j2048b Thx Ill take a look into this. If my PCP is already prescribing this could I not simply have it sent to Costco and use the coupon? Is Sesame needed?

 

[j2048b]

@j2048b Thx Ill take a look into this. If my PCP is already prescribing this could I not simply have it sent to Costco and use the coupon? Is Sesame needed?

usually u cant use a coupon in conjunction with insurance


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[Bolan]

They end up hurting my entire arm after being in for a while especially after getting a pump and trying to lift heavy at all… and then my arm hurts like a mofo for a bit and i end up tearing it out and my arm gets relief

That's my only bitch about the 3.... Once I get my glucose right on a big run of GH+Slin I take the damn thing off. But still check BG with the freestyle lite.

 

[netix]

usually u cant use a coupon in conjunction with insurance

No, paying out of pocket. Just trying to see if I need sesame. Doesn't look like I do as I can use the Abbott coupon directly with Costco via my PCP script to them.

 

[Syntha Claus]

They were about $60usd/each last I was in Mexico. Right on the shelf at Costco.

 

[geez3r]

I'm doing a trial run of Lingo. First sensor was fine but near the end it kept "losing connection." Put a new sensor on when it expired, and the new sensor died like 2 days later, so they sent a free replacement overnight. I'm just near the tail end of that one's two week run.

I have two more sensors and then I plan on stopping. I've been eating a different diet, but also on reta, and was just curious what my BG was doing during the day. Always insightful.

 

[Sector.]

Heard CGMs can be pretty inaccurate, especially when lean as they need a good fat spot to read off is my understanding.

Still though it could be an interesting experiment. It’s been something I’ve wanted to toy with and maybe compare to the standard finger prick method, just haven’t gotten around to it as I never have blood sugar issues

 

[Syntha Claus]

Heard CGMs can be pretty inaccurate, especially when lean as they need a good fat spot to read off is my understanding.

Still though it could be an interesting experiment. It’s been something I’ve wanted to toy with and maybe compare to the standard finger prick method, just haven’t gotten around to it as I never have blood sugar issues

I used to use the One Touch but in Mexico, you have to have the "lector" or reader to read the Libre. They are the same as the USA but are coded for Mexico so the phone app doesn't work. I had to buy the lector.
So I started using the Freestyle strips since I use the lector for the CGM anyway. The numbers are usually within one digit.
I haven't worn a CGM for some time but I think there is a function on the lector that balances the two numbers somehow.

You guys will hate this. I get the strips, 75 for around $20usd. I saw the One Touch strips for around $1 or more each in the USA. Crazy stupid expensive. But of course, 5 Lantus pens are just over $100 and Humalog is about $6usd per pen.

 

[Bolan]

5 Lantus pens are just over $100 and Humalog is about $6usd per pen.

Jealous.......

 

[Sector.]

I used to use the One Touch but in Mexico, you have to have the "lector" or reader to read the Libre. They are the same as the USA but are coded for Mexico so the phone app doesn't work. I had to buy the lector.
So I started using the Freestyle strips since I use the lector for the CGM anyway. The numbers are usually within one digit.
I haven't worn a CGM for some time but I think there is a function on the lector that balances the two numbers somehow.

You guys will hate this. I get the strips, 75 for around $20usd. I saw the One Touch strips for around $1 or more each in the USA. Crazy stupid expensive. But of course, 5 Lantus pens are just over $100 and Humalog is about $6usd per pen.

$6 humalog pens is good tier. Definitely a little jealeous

 

[Cage99]

Just got my PCP to prescribe me a CGM. Had to sell it to him though cause his initial reaction is why, you’re in great shape and your A1C bloodwork is perfect.

Basically sold him a bill of goods that I was getting into the tracking every lil thing that goes into my body and want to know how my blood glucose levels rise and fall after my meals and heavy workouts. I know my insurance ain’t paying for the damn thing. Think when I looked they were $160ish with GoodRx.

Hoping to fill it this week; will be the Freestyle Libre 3. Hopefully I get some good insight from it versus some of y’all’s experiences here.

Cage

 

[geez3r]

Just got my PCP to prescribe me a CGM. Had to sell it to him though cause his initial reaction is why, you’re in great shape and your A1C bloodwork is perfect.

Basically sold him a bill of goods that I was getting into the tracking every lil thing that goes into my body and want to know how my blood glucose levels rise and fall after my meals and heavy workouts. I know my insurance ain’t paying for the damn thing. Think when I looked they were $160ish with GoodRx.

Hoping to fill it this week; will be the Freestyle Libre 3. Hopefully I get some good insight from it versus some of y’all’s experiences here.

Cage

I forget which one the Lingo is like. But no Rx needed, not too expensive, and gave decent data. I wondered if it was artificially low but my recent A1c was 4.9 so I’m good.

 

[j2048b]

Do not get the stelo! Those are such crap! Mine was good until i had a week left wnd all of a sudden its reading constantly over 130+ all week i finally finger prick and its at 80 wtf… wow stello sucks

Libre 3+ is my recommendation….

Get the coupon and get it thru sesame + costco


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[netix]

Hoping to fill it this week; will be the Freestyle Libre 3

@Cage99 you may want to ask your PCP to change your script to the Libre 3 plus as Abbott recently announced end of sale of the Libre 2/3. Replacement is the plus.

 

[netix]

An update from above. I ended up going with the Libre 3 plus because I was able to get my PCP to prescribe it and then insurance to partly cover the cost. With insurance partly covering and the Abbott coupon used at my local pharmacy, the cost for a 2 month supply was pretty reasonable.
My experience with the Libre 3 + thus far has been hit-and-miss. The first sensor lasted about 32 hours before it just died and wouldn't communicate any longer. Abbott had to replace. I've used rock tape to keep it in place, so I haven't had one fall off yet. One thing I have noticed when comparing the readings against my Accu-Chek was that it had the same or similar readings a majority of the time, but other times there would be a 9-11 point delta between the two. Typically, the Accu-Chek was reading lower on a glucose spike or higher on a glucose dip when comparing against the L3+ results. Going to compare the L3+ results against my next blood test to see how close it aligns at that time frame as well.

 

[naps_for_gains]

I've been using the Libre 3+ and have had similar issues to others mentioned in this thread - sensors failing, inaccurate readings. Abbott has a form you can fill out for a replacement, but given how unreliable the numbers have been, I'm going to try another brand next. SusWel has a sensor called LinX which is just a rebranded generic option but much cheaper at $30 each.

It does seem like the Libre 3+ needs a good bit of fat to work properly. I've had more luck putting it on my lower chest as opposed to the tricep when at 10-12% body fat. Readings are still often ~10 mg/dL lower than a finger prick, so next sensor I'm also going to try an even fattier spot like lower stomach or hip.