I tried to create a poll asking which CGM people use but it came out with white text on a white background. Until I learn how to set text colors I’ll just say my gut feeling is out of the people who visit this forum regularly most use dexcom. When you first posted I did some googling and found people who have had the similar sounding problems so it isn’t just you.
Yesterday I saw someone with dexcom and an android phone say they had to shut down the phone then turn the phone on and start the app to solve some dexcom app problem. They said restarting didn’t work. Wouldn’t hurt to try. Microsoft pulls the same shenanigans with Windows where a restart isn’t the same as cycling power any more.
" When you first posted I did some googling and found people who have had the similar sounding problems so it isn’t just you."
I searched quite a bit before I came here, I didn’t see anything that matched my specific failure.
When I go through the event log, I do not see “373” codes that coincide with the failure.
There are a few there, but not at the times I got the “Sensor Error” on my phone.
According to Abbott, the Libre 3 failure rate is under 10% I would be happy with that.
IF you recall where you searched and found that info. please let me know.
Thanks
T1D and new to Libre 3. I started 2 weeks ago and have gone through 4 sensors already. One came with a broken wire. Another would not connect to the app. The other 3 all gave an error message (Sensor Error) with the 'try again in 10 minutes. In all 3 cases those sensors never gave a reading again. They lasted between 5 and 6 days each. Abbott has been good about replacing, but I believe they know there is a problem with the app/sensor communication. I am going to look for an earlier version of the app which some people mentioned seem to work better. I have an android (Samsung S23). The help line at Abbott said they didn’t think it was an app problem and at this last phone call asked me to send in the defective sensor which I’m doing. Anyone got any additional advice?
Hi @Scott1542 Welcome to the forum. “Sensor Error” indicates the sensor is talking to the app but the reading or the rate of change is out of bounds and a couple of other rare reasons no one but Abbott knows. I’m still hoping waiting longer before changing the sensor will work for Dave, and you. We grilled Dave up above and gave him the best advice we had in this topic. Check it out and if your situation is different than his in some way let us know.
Otherwise… maybe try a Dexcom G7 and enjoy the better accuracy between 70-80ish mg/dL.
Lot of reading here.
Dave, I have been using the Libre 3 for 22 months now, and have had 4 sensor failures/replacements in that time. The first two were unknown cause, and were both cases of the app stating “signal loss” and it did not come back for 12 hours. At the 12 hour point I figured that the sensor was a goner and replaced them. The last two failures I have experienced were both failures where the app told me “sensor failure, you must replace the sensor”. Now, both of those instances happened with sensors that when I applied them, I struck a blood supply in the skin/subcutaneous region and immediately after installing the sensor it started to bleed. Both times the puncture site bled a LOT, like several minutes and blood was freely running out of the hole in the sensor. I do not know this to be the reason, but I believe that these sensors failed due to that blood coagulating in the cannula which prevented the sensor from being able to get the interstitial fluid to read. Now this bleeding has happened one more time, but somehow the sensor survived and worked normally for the entire 2 weeks. That last time, when I saw it start bleeding, I grabbed a box of Q-tips and started going through them rapidly, just touching the cotton tip to the hole in the sensor to absorb the blood. Had to do that for a couple minutes and went through a lot of Q tips, but I believe that using the absorbent cotton helped pull the blood out of the cannula.
I get signal loss anytime by BG is rising or falling rapidly. but it only takes a few minutes for that to work itself out and provide readings again.
Lastly, all of the obvious things you have probably already heard from Abbott: sensor must be on the back of the arm - the tricep region. Make sure that you are not consuming too much vitamin C in your diet.
Are your arms normal? In the sense that you do not have a lot of scar tissue or burns on your arms where the sensors go?
Again, my issue is with “Sensor Error”, anywhere from the 1st day of use to the last and so many of them.
I have had a little blood but nothing like what day your explaining, just a small spot after I removed the sensor after 14-days usage.
I felt it would be a good idea to update the thread and those who offered advice/comments…
Since I seemed to be the only one with the ongoing problem, it had to be something with me, not the sensors themselves
.I am 95% certain I have found my issue with all the sensor errors I was getting.
I’m a brittle T1D and became accustomed to occasional quick drops in my glucose levels.
To make a month long story short; the sensor errors I was getting seem to be caused by really fast drops. If I got an error, I waited 10 minutes, tried again if I got another error, I changed the sensor. Of course after waiting an hour, the BG level rose and the new sensor reported a “normal” level.
I left a lot out, but you get the idea.
Thank You Again,
Dave
Thanks for sharing your update, and congratulations - there’s always a feeling of accomplishment to figuring out the answer to a problem.
There is a bizarre irony in the fact that your sensor works by not working when you’re rapidly dropping🤪 - hopefully down the road they will have found a way to fix that.
Dave @Dave52, what you “discovered” about the Libre is programmed into the Decon G7; for me, a very helpful feature. During a seven day stay in Joslin Clinic in 1974, I was diagnosed “Clinically Brittle” - long story here.
When the G7 senses a mysterious value, it automatically suspends BGL value postings and posts “Brief Sensor Error”. This suspend will last through 15 minutes - gathering three sensor readings, before resuming the “normal” .
Dorie @wadawabbit, I hope this feature isn’t fixed; for me and others diagnosed Clinically Brittle this is a valuable feature.
For me, the wording “Sensor Error” is very misleading, I assumed a technical problem/failure.
With all the events where the reader or phone app “suggest” checking your BG with a finger prick, a sensor error would be a place to suggest it.
I agree it works - sort of. But as @Dave52 suggests, wording other than “sensor error” may be in order. Seeing “error” frequently on your display is like getting a warning light on your car’s dashboard - your mind goes to dark places even if you just need a new light bulb, or a short circuit in a car sensor is causing it. Something along the lines of “Recalculating - wait 15 minutes” would let the user know it is functioning but just needs more time.
On a side note, the G7 recently became compatible with Omnipod5 and I’ve started the process of switching over. Looking forward to seeing for myself “what all the fuss is about.”
Dorie @wadawabbit, this is a “Libre 3” Topic and I don’t want to misdirect the conversation.
I suspect you fully read the Dexcom Manual before ordering, so I just mention here that when a BGL Value is not displayed, one of three descriptions will display: “No Readings”, “Sensor Error”, “Brief Sensor Error”. The user should know how it applies to her/his body.
@wadawabbit Thanks for making me laugh imagining my CGM saying “recalculating” like Navigation Nancy in the car. To your point about “fixing the problem” I agree with you, I’m also looking forward to CGMs that can respond faster to changes in glucose so they don’t have say the equivalent of “dunno, ask me later.”
Thanks @Dave52 for updating the topic with the solution.
I am just on the 2nd anniversary of starting insulin, and have had a Libre 2 since then.
I had no problem with my Android phone [Samsung A 12], until I changed it about 15 months ago as I’d smashed the screen. Initially my A14 was fine, then I had a problem with regular loss of signal, and it not re-alarming if my levels had dropped, come back above 4, and dropped again.
Abbott informed me that my phone was “no longer compatible”. They did give me a Libre reader, but I have not yet activated this.
I now have an iPhone, and the same problem.
Does anyone else experience the problem re alarms?
What are the views re Libre readers, and would I be able to share data with my DSN?
Welcome to the forum @Diabeticgardener!
I use Dexcom rather than Freestyle. However I’ve found that when my phone is giving me connection issues it often helps to reset my network settings.
Go to your Settings menu.
Type in Reset.
Select Reset Network Settings
At the bottom of the screen select Reset.
From the menu select Reset Network Settings, and follow the prompts.
This was recommended to me a few years ago by Apple support and I’ve found it usually solves any problems - other phone features and functions remain intact. Keep us posted on whether you find a solution, even if it’s not this one. All the best.
@Dave52 - just wanted to post to let you know you’re not alone!!
i’ve been on libre 3 for about a year now and have had a lot of sensor failures lately - today is day 14 on my latest, fingers crossed that it makes it the next 19 hours. The last 2 or 3 failed within the first few days - one of them because i accidentally ripped it off while changing my outfit… Abbott has been amazing and sends me a replacement every time - they did have me send back a couple of bad ones in the last few months for review, but i didnt hear back on what they found out. I do presoak when i can - i have my new one on since this morning - will scan it when the old one dies of natural causes). i also wear it on my thigh sometimes and it helps avoid compression lows.
I tend to agree with your explanation of it just being our rapid changes - I’m very active n honeymooning (so i guess similar to “brittle”)… The libre 3 does recalculate every minute, so I’ve learnt to just enjoy a small treat when it says i’m below 60 or so point and i sometimes don’t even see the red parts later on… i could feel the sensor really burning up after 2 days of continuous 75+ mile bike rides before it finally gave up n told me to replace sensor - got to eat 2 donuts that time!! Sometimes when i’ve not had access to a replacement right away, ive seen it just start working on its own in a couple of hours. once or twice, the sensor error happened when i was not doing crazy things - resetting network, turbine phone off n on, etc worked.
I did think it was a sensor issue and my educator let me try the dexcom g7. Having them both on at the same time helped me understand things much better. Libre 3 is very spot on when i’m stable or going high, but freaks out when i’m in the 70s. the dexcom on the other hand ( literally) never showed i was low - kept showing 30-40 higher than i was the first 4 days or so despite multiple calibrations. without the libre, i would have just bolused without fingerpricking and ended up with a real good a1c but several serious lows. the g7 got ripped off on day 9 and i didnt bother replacing it or trying the other free sample i was given.
Way back when, I started with the v1 (14 day) FS Libre with the reader. Worked like a charm. Then it started getting harder to get the sensors, so I upgraded to the 3. Worked fine but the reader had to be recharged frequently. Then, the pharmacy started carrying only the 3+ sensors. What a nightmare. It’s only been 2 or 3 months, and I think I’ve only had one sensor make it through the 14 days. Each time it fails I get a permanent sensor error. Yeah, Abbott will replace them, but I’m tired of going through the whole pile of questions each time. Just now, I gave up because now they’ve added the rule that I have to have the reader with me at all times.
I’m reading here and it seems the current Dexcom has the same “Sensor Error” trouble. Is that true? If so, is there a third CGM option out there?
hi @rcongdon welcome to Breakthrough T1D. There are 2 Dexcom errors I am familiar with, the first is “Brief Issue do not remove sensor” and the 2nd is “Sensor error, remove sensor”. I get a few “brief issue” warnings, probably 1 out of 6 sessions and they go away. I have only had 1 “sensor error - remove sensor” in the year I’ve been on G7 so far, and none on Dexcom G6. The alarm “sensor error remove sensor” was because the applicator pulled the sensor wire back out of my arm during application and the device failed during warmup.
Apparently the Dexcom and from what I am reading the Libre, when presented with very quickly changing BGL, may display an error. In the case of my observations with the “brief issue” warnings, they do not always coincide with quickly changing BGL, but the argument makes sense because the device does not just report values but also has some intelligence built in regarding the last value.
Anyway I know this isn’t directly helpful, but you asked about Dexcom so I figured I’d report my observations.
I just started on the G7 a couple of weeks ago and got a connection issue alert (sorry, I don’t recall the exact wording) yesterday - the second day of my second sensor. It said it might take 3 hours to resolve but it came back around within an hour, maybe even 30 minutes.
I got a few with the G6 as well and occasionally they did take the entire 3 hours. The first time it occurred I said “forget that” and switched out the sensor right away, then reached out to Dexcom support for a replacement - they gave me one but told me I should always wait to see if it resolves on its own and call after those 3 hours if it has not. Time will tell with my G7.