[[NO-TRANS]]Desastre con los sensores Freestyle libre

I wanted to share my experience in case someone else is experiencing the same thing.

I have contacted Abbott Diabetes Care because I am having problems with the sensor.The answer they gave me is that the problem is due to the fact that the application is not updated for my mobile phone and that, at the moment, they have no plans to update it.The only alternative they offer me is to send me a list of compatible phones.

What bothers me the most is that this same situation already happened to me about a year and a half ago.On that occasion they told me that I had to change my phone, and I ended up going from a Samsung A54 5G to a Samsung S24 5G.Now I run into the same problem again.

Changing phones every time they stop providing support is not a solution.We are talking about devices that cost close to €1,000, and it is not something that most people can do overnight.

In my case, I also have type 3 diabetes and I need very strict glucose control because I suffer very pronounced drops.That the sensor stops working correctly is not a simple annoyance, but a problem that directly affects my safety.

The feeling I am left with is that Abbott offers very good words, but few real solutions.If the only answer is "change your phone", I think something is wrong.I expected greater engagement with users, especially when we depend on these devices to manage a chronic illness.

Hello @juanen_

In my case I already have 4 sensors from the same batch with problems: 3 of them were constantly disconnected and one on the second day started with the reading pause error until the error that the sensor reached the end of its life came out (despite which it continued to work).

I sent an email to Abbott to comment on it, identifying the batch number, without claiming anything or asking for explanations, simply in case they have to evaluate this batch to take measures such as withdrawing it or whatever.Wow, my intention was to inform you for your interest.

The response was a shitty response.The same as in your case, they gave me a list with the compatibility of devices and operating systems without even asking me which one was mine.

I think the worst of all, more than a defective batch, is that the treatment of patient care (not customer) is regrettable.

Does anyone have experience raising these issues to the corresponding health department?Or the AEMPS?

@pva91 said:

Hello@juanen_

In my case I already have 4 sensors from the same batch with problems: 3 of them were constantly disconnected and one on the second day started with the reading pause error until the error that the sensor reached the end of its life came out (despite which it continued to work).

I sent an email to Abbott to comment on it, identifying the batch number, without claiming anything or asking for explanations, simply in case they have to evaluate this batch to take measures such as withdrawing it or whatever.Wow, my intention was to inform you for your interest.

The response was a shitty response.The same as in your case, they gave me a list with the compatibility of devices and operating systems without even asking me which one was mine.

I think the worst of all, more than a defective batch, is that the treatment of patient care (not customer) is regrettable.

Does anyone have experience raising these issues to the corresponding health department?Or the AEMPS?

For my part, screw Abbot, he deserves it well for ignoring the users of his sensors, who have been reporting errors for some time now, without providing a solution, just changing the sensor (there would be more to do), but without guaranteeing that it would fail again, because for them the failure is always due to the user's mobile device.

Hello good @

The S24 is a compatible terminal (I have the S24 Ultra and they don't give me any problems when I call them).

That does not mean that the sensors give a lot of errors, but the terminal is on its compatible list.

Yes @BaradDurr but I have the S24 5g and the "engineers" say that it is not the same as the S24... what do you think...

The mother who P....

BaradDurr said:
@BaradDurr said:

Hello good @

The S24 is a compatible terminal (I have the S24 Ultra and they don't give me any problems when I call them).

That does not mean that the sensors give a lot of errors, but the terminal is on its compatible list.

What differentiates one cell phone from another in terms of connections (NFC Bluetooth,...) is the hardware it uses - which can be different even in the same manufacturer -, and what we call 'device driver', the small program that communicates the 'iron' (hardware) with the OS.And that is different too.Specific to each circuit and OS

These elements are what most influence the communications protocol between the sensor and the phone's OS to work well.

Older Bluetooth versions (before LE) used a lot of battery.For me, 14% is having the car phone activated.Without being in it!!!!

Now the LEs spend almost nothing and everyone wears headphones, watches.... So I lose the connection more times going down the street than at home.So much device emitting around...

(I have to change my phone this fall, Ufff how scary)

Grati said:
@Grati said:

What differentiates one cell phone from another in terms of connections (NFC Bluetooth,...) is the hardware it uses - which can be different even in the same manufacturer -, and what we call 'device driver', the small program that communicates the 'iron' (hardware) with the OS.And that is different too.Specific to each circuit and OS

These elements are what most influence the communications protocol between the sensor and the phone's OS to work well.

Older Bluetooth versions (before LE) used a lot of battery.For me, 14% is having the car phone activated.Without being in it!!!!

Now the LEs spend almost nothing and everyone wears headphones, watches.... So I lose the connection more times going down the street than at home.So much device emitting around...

(I have to change my phone this fall, Ufff how scary)

I'm still the same... with connection 30% of the day and without connection the rest.

These Abbott guys are plenty...

Yes, all good manners but you explain to them and the solution they give you is for me to buy another cell phone...

Two hours without sensor.With the declines I have from not having a pancreas...

I have already called the endocrinologist twice to change me to Dexcom.

I don't think I'm the only one that's happening....😠

juanen_ said:
@juanen_ said:

These Abbott guys are plenty...

Yes, all good manners but you explain to them and the solution they give you is for me to buy another cell phone...

Two hours without sensor.With the declines I have from not having a pancreas...

I have already called the endocrinologist twice to change me to Dexcom.

I don't think I'm the only one that's happening....😠

The problem is not the mobile, it is the version of the operating system.The abbott application is not compatible with android 16 unless you have a google pixel.If you look closely at Abbott's compatibility document, it makes it very clear.If you use Android 15 or iOS you will not have this problem.I have found a temporary solution using juggluco.

The truth is that this company is shameful.As shameful as the fact that public health has not already broken its entire relationship with them.

@Ruthbia said they have already changed the lease from Abbot to Dexcom.That all the new users will already start with Dexcom and I suppose that the old ones will move on little by little.

And it is true that the abbots are probably not that good, but a few years ago the Dexcoms were worth thousands of euros (transmitter, receiver and sensor), the abbots on the other hand started costing €50, which was a brutal change.If it weren't for abbot it would be prohibitive to use sensors.

Initial call

I think the time has come for FreeStyle Libre users to be proactive and act in an organized manner.

Problems detected

Many users are observing errors that cannot remain in simple comments on a forum.Among the most frequent are:

• Sensors that deactivate prematurely
• Connection losses
• Readings that are clearly erroneous or very far from real blood glucose
• Problems that appear in the first days of use
• Failures that can also arise at any time during the life of the sensor

Associated risks

For those of us who use closed loop insulin pump systems, the situation is especially worrying:

• A disconnection may cause the algorithm to temporarily stop working
• An incorrect value can lead to wrong therapeutic decisions, such as:
  
  
• Giving insulin when it is not appropriate
• Promote potentially serious hypoglycemia
• Maintain significant hyperglycemia for hours

Importance of documenting incidents

It is not enough to say that a sensor “has failed.”It is essential to document each incident with the greatest possible rigor.It is recommended to include:

• Date and time
• Sensor use day
• Failure type
• Screenshots
• Comparison with capillary blood glucose (when possible)
• Clinical consequences
• Any other relevant information

This information must:

• Contact the manufacturer's technical service
• Share with the endocrine or diabetes team

Impact of collective action

If hundreds or thousands of users provide well-documented incidents:

• Health professionals will have objective data
• They will be able to transfer the problem to the competent authorities

Additionally, if the associations of people with diabetes:

• They collect this information
• They send it to health organizations and the media

It will be much more difficult for this situation to go unnoticed.

Constructive approach

It is not about finding culprits or generating alarm.It is about:

• Demand the reliability that a device deserves
• Guarantee safety in therapeutic decisions that directly affect our health

Call to action

• Every unreported incident is a lost opportunity to improve
• Every well-documented incident is evidence that can drive investigation and action

We have a lot at stake.That is why we must:

• Be rigorous
• Be constant
• Act together

Only with objective data and collective action will we ensure that our voice has the weight it deserves.

Yes, after 10 years with Abbott, I asked to change to Dexcom One+ and I am delighted.Especially because it can be calibrated if you want, it is not necessary to measure quite well, but I take advantage of a capillary and insert it and if it measures even better.

They last 10 days and 12 more hours of grace.And the SS has also given me a reader, not just a mobile phone.Just in case.

@Ruthbia

Would you mind guiding me so I can put the necessary apps for the phone, for whatever... Please.