Diabetes is a chronic condition that impacts your body's insulin production capabilities. It manifests in two main forms: Type 1 diabetes, where your body is unable to produce any insulin, and Type 2 diabetes, where your body's insulin production is diminished.

Insulin, a vital hormone, transfers glucose from your blood to your cells, providing necessary energy. Insufficient insulin production means glucose cannot efficiently enter your cells, leading to symptoms like fatigue, weight loss, intense thirst, blurred vision, and other typical signs of diabetes.

Monitoring your blood glucose levels is essential for diabetes, as it can prevent serious complications. While everyone experiences changes in their blood sugar levels, people with diabetes can feel the effects more and have extreme reactions.

For example, low glucose levels can cause hypoglycaemia, and high glucose levels might turn into hyperglycaemia. In severe cases, you could go into a diabetic coma, lose your sight and even have an amputation.

Regular monitoring ensures you know whether your health is at risk, and can take steps to correct your blood sugar through insulin.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) offers a different approach to traditional Blood Glucose Monitoring (BGM) by tracking interstitial glucose levels in the tissue fluids beneath your skin instead of directly measuring blood glucose.

Attaching a CGM sensor to your skin assesses the glucose concentration in your interstitial fluid, which is the fluid around the cells under the skin's surface layers.

The sensor's filament is positioned in this tissue layer, enabling it to monitor glucose levels continuously. It then relays this data to your reading device every minute, providing round-the-clock updates.

Each sensor in the Freestyle Libre system lasts for 14 days, providing accurate blood glucose readings. It's the longest-lasting ICGM sensor, and you'll only need to buy a two-sensor pack once a month.

The sensor has a 9.7% MARD rate in children and a 9.3% in adults. Using the sensor as instructed is one of the most accurate options, and will maintain that accuracy throughout the 14 days.

No, the Freestyle Libre 2 is a complete system that requires compatible sensors and readers. Once you use the sensor, glucose readings will become available, which lets you know if your levels are OK.

When you download the app, you can collect data on your interstitial fluid glucose levels and look for trends over time. However, the app is also beneficial for keeping your loved ones and healthcare professionals informed, as you can share the data with 20 people.

Yes, it can. However, your healthcare team might ask for periodic blood glucose readings to calibrate the sensor, and traditional tests can be beneficial in emergencies.

Attach the Libre 2 sensor to the upper arm area as instructed in the information leaflet. When appropriately secured, the sensor will attach for up to 14 days, allowing you to perform daily activities such as showering and exercising.

When you want to check your glucose readings, use the Libre 2 reader to scan the sensor, transmitting the data to the reader for convenient access.

You can activate real-time alarms through the Freestyle Libre reader. As long as you're within 20 feet of the reader, the connection will be stable, and you'll receive alarms in the following scenarios:

• The reader and sensor lose their connection.
• Your glucose levels are too low.
• Your levels are increasing.

You can wear the sensor in most cases, but should take it off if you're having:

• A CT Scan
• An X-Ray
• Diathermy treatment
• An MRI

If you need help determining whether you can wear the sensor, check the information leaflet or ask your healthcare provider.

The Freestyle Libre 2 system isn't compatible with automated insulin dosing systems (AID), such as closed-loop and insulin suspend systems. If you're supplementing a high amount of Vitamin C, limit it to 500mg, as it can interfere with the readings.

Children over four can wear the sensor, but it's unsuitable for younger children or babies. Please contact Pharmacy Online or your healthcare provider if you have any questions.