This question is for Leo - or anyone who remembers the Continuous Glucose Monitor that Leo stated he has used previously. I remember him discussing it in a past show.
It looks like I need to get one. I’d like to know which one that Leo has used in the past. I remember him talking about how well it was working for him (back, at that time)
I didn’t know @Leo had ever used one, but I have an experience I can relate if you’re interested. I am wearing a Freestyle Libre by Abbot. I believe, in Canada the version number is out of sync with the USA version, so mine is called Freestyle Libre 2, but I believe that is the same tech as what the USA calls Freestyle Libre 3. I don’t know all the details of the tech, but it acts like it is bluetooth with setup/pairing based on [near] contact like RFID. You can use a reader and/or a phone to scan it. I use the reader, which was no charge to me. It seems to have some form of ongoing contact between the sensor disc and the reader, because if I go too low or high it will alarm to alert me. (I don’t really need that capability tbh, I am still managing well enough without insulin, so I am very unlikely to ever unexpectedly go to a low.) They also have a web portal/app you can use (on a PC) to upload data from the reader and get a PDF report of your numbers/trends over time. I have used this to have phone sessions with my support nurse, but it’s no replacement for regular blood work. I am fairly squeamish about blood and needles, so the first time I applied the sensor was a bit of an “experience” for me with lots of trepidation. After doing it, I was chiding myself because it really turned out not too bad. The application device makes a fair amount of mechanical noise (a big snap as it applies the sensor) and I think all that is to mask the brief pain and I think that generally works. I have only had one sensor come off early, it was the second one ever. I have had one sensor fail to work at all, and that was the third one. It both cases, I filled out a form on the Abbot website and they sent me free replacements, but they did ask me to send in the one that failed to activate, and provided the means to do so with the replacement. Once you adapt to applying it, and get a good location for how you sleep/live your life, it is fairly inconsequential, just a new routine every two weeks. There is, of course, the cost for it all, which is running me about $70Cdn every 6 weeks (I get my sensors 3 at a time) and that is my co-pay that is not covered by my health insurance plan.
Yeah I used the Freestyle Libre, but this was several years ago. There are much better solutions these days. I agree with @pholder, ook for one that automatically updates the up so you don’t have to scan it manually! I’m pretty sure Abbot has one.