# FreeStyle Libre cost? **URL:** \ **Category:** Insurance\ **Tags:** freestyle-libre, sensor\ **Created:** [December 19, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912 "2017-12-19T22:45:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Michel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/michel/32/387_2.png) [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 2:17am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/21 "2017-12-20T02:17:55Z")
> [@Jen](#): > > If a sensor dies early (or falls off or is ripped off), does Abbott replace it for free? @daisymae, you should discuss your experience w Abbott and like k to tour Abbott feedback thread, I can’t from my phone. ---
**Author:** ![Pianoplayer7008](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/pianoplayer7008/32/1507_2.png) [@Pianoplayer7008](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Pianoplayer7008)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 3:05am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/22 "2017-12-20T03:05:24Z")
> [@kenrick](#): > > with the official reader it dies exactly in two weeks. I thought I had read (sorry, I have forgotten where) that it dies in 10 days for US; 14 days is outside the US. > [@kenrick](#): > > I guess I wouldn’t count on it as a way to replace test strips, but it should definitely reduce the number of test strips you’d need to use. How often would you say you test with finger pricks each day? And the main reason I’d like a CGM right now is to see trends after certain foods/meals, etc to better tighten my control - is it consistent enough throughout the day to show those trends fairly accurately? ---
**Author:** ![kenrick](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/kenrick/32/113_2.png) [@kenrick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/kenrick)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 3:52am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/23 "2017-12-20T03:52:15Z")
Oh that’s right the lifespan was shortened for the US 🤨 Well, I don’t use the libre anymore (medtronic now) but when I did I usually did about 3 pricks a day unless I felt weird. It would usually be before meals for a better bolus. You will definitely be able to see food trends! ---
**Author:** ![Michel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/michel/32/387_2.png) [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 5:11am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/24 "2017-12-20T05:11:31Z")
> [@Pianoplayer7008](#): > > it dies in 10 days for US; 14 days is outside the US. That is correct. If you buy the sensor here, it will die in 10 days if you use the official reader. ---
**Author:** ![Pianoplayer7008](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/pianoplayer7008/32/1507_2.png) [@Pianoplayer7008](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Pianoplayer7008)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 5:15am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/25 "2017-12-20T05:15:10Z")
> [@kenrick](#): > > You will definitely be able to see food trends! Good to know - thank you! > [@Michel](#): > > if you use the official reader. So about that if… 😉 Guess I should go look at the posts about the Libre again. ---
**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 12:54pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/26 "2017-12-20T12:54:28Z")
> [@Michel](#): > > you should discuss your experience w Abbott Michel, if you go to the “vendors” topic thread, you will find my post about Abbott. they were horrible and i would not use their products based upon their miserable customer service. ---
**Author:** ![Thomas](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/thomas/32/1719_2.png) [@Thomas](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Thomas)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 1:31pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/27 "2017-12-20T13:31:21Z")
I always had great customer and technical support interactions with Animas, Dexcom and Tandem. I am (was in the case of Animas) on the frequent caller program. Give me a 24x7 tech support number and better believe I am going to use it. ---
**Author:** ![Pianoplayer7008](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/pianoplayer7008/32/1507_2.png) [@Pianoplayer7008](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Pianoplayer7008)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/28 "2017-12-20T14:35:01Z")
> [@daisymae](#): > > i would not use their products based upon their miserable customer service That’s what I’ve heard, too. Very disappointing! ---
**Author:** ![Michel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/michel/32/387_2.png) [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/29 "2017-12-20T15:34:21Z")
I would put a link to @daisymae’s review but I can’t as I am on my phone. ---
**Author:** ![CatLady](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/catlady/32/36_2.png) [@CatLady](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/CatLady)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/30 "2017-12-20T15:44:34Z")
DM’s review: > [@Abbott: Freestyle Libre Pro](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/abbott-freestyle-libre-pro/1498): > > My endo put me on the Freestyle Libre for 2 weeks. i thought that it would be VERY helpful to wear the sensor for another 2 weeks so that i could see how i responded to the changes. my insurance wouldn’t cover it, so i payed OOP ( very $$$$ at $350) . i discussed it with my husband and we both felt strongly that it was a very worthwhile investment. so the nurse hooked me up, again promising me that i would have no problem swimming with it and to come back in 2 weeks so that it could be download… ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/31 "2017-12-20T17:17:21Z")
> [@Sam](#): > > Yeah I wanted to wring my docs neck when he was telling me the MARD (mean absolute relative difference) is lower than almost any test strip system… yeah, that’s wonderful in a laboratory. If only I lived in a laboratory and had control solution for blood and interstitial fluid The problem with their lab claim is that when your BG is changing, the interstitial readers are not more accurate than meters. They are way off. I don’t think there is any way they could be doing tests on changing BG and getting better results. I could be a test subject and totally blow up their claim of better MARD. This is from a [post](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/some-dexcom-disappointment/2755) I did a while ago ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/fudiabetes/original/2X/f/fea8d64f0998b96a267e42c252e34d3562a637ec.jpg) @sam, when you saw your doctor, did he take a BG reading? Ask him why he doesn’t just look at your CGM instead, if he is in love with their MARD so much. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Chris](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/chris/32/382_2.png) [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 5:23pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/32 "2017-12-20T17:23:16Z")
While statistics tell exactly what they tell and nothing else, I would say that for us the CGM is correct 95% of the time, except during times of rapid change as you have noted. Getting mad at MARD is kind of funny. ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/33 "2017-12-20T17:57:52Z")
I do not get mad at MARD. But I do get mad at fool endos who believe that the CGM is a more accurate measurement when they have not actually used it in real-world situations. The most recent study I saw was that Dexcom was 9% for BG’s between 40-400, compared to the Contour Next which was 5.6%. And the study had no indication of whether the BG was changing at the time, which would make the Dexcom even worse. * * * The other thing that would make me mad is the idea that an interstitial reader could replace test strips. > [@Sam](#): > > my doctor was ecstatic about these going so far as to say he thinks they might totally beat out all strips in terms of what’s covered by insurance over the next few years. ---
**Author:** ![docslotnick](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/docslotnick/32/75_2.png) [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/34 "2017-12-20T18:37:00Z")
I think the bottom line concerning absolute CGM accuracy is what Dexcom says about dosing from the Dexcom readings. The rule is that _if you **think** the CGM is correct you may dose from it_. Otherwise do a finger stick. That tells me all I need to know about it, despite the MARD. ---
**Author:** ![Sam](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/sam/32/10595_2.png) [@Sam](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/35 "2017-12-20T18:43:08Z")
My Dexcom is frequently off by over 100 pts if my bg is actually moving… maybe they only work great for people whose blood sugar movements are closer to a speed they can track ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 6:50pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/36 "2017-12-20T18:50:35Z")
> [@Sam](#): > > maybe they only work great for people whose blood sugar movements are closer to a speed they can track Possibly Afrezza contributes to less than desirable readings for you since it could cause more rapid BG changes? ---
**Author:** ![Sam](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/sam/32/10595_2.png) [@Sam](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/37 "2017-12-20T18:51:28Z")
It adds its own complications with the cgm but it’s way off even if I’m not using it ---
**Author:** ![cardamom](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/cardamom/32/2622_2.png) [@cardamom](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/cardamom)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/38 "2017-12-20T18:55:00Z")
I would maintain (again) that there are a lot of individual differences in CGM outcomes that mean that the average results won’t necessarily be a great predictor re: how CGMs perform for any specific individual, until those moderating factors are identified, tested, and included in predictions/recommendations. That really needs to be done to a much better and more transparent extent, if CGMs are going to be rolled out and recommended much more broadly. I still suspect part of it is physiological, like maybe there are tissue differences that make some people’s interstitial readings more quickly and closely tied to their blood glucose, as well as ones that degrade the sensor filaments faster or slower. I still don’t think it’s a coincidence that I have extremely accurate and reliable results with my CGM (to what seems like an unusual extent) _and_ a connective tissue disorder that means all my collagen is abnormal/weaker. ---
**Author:** ![Thomas](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/thomas/32/1719_2.png) [@Thomas](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Thomas)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/39 "2017-12-20T18:55:56Z")
> [@Eric](#): > > Possibly Afrezza contributes to less than desirable readings for you since it could cause more rapid BG changes? Good point. With Humalog, I doubt we could get movement that fast. ---
**Author:** ![Sam](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/sam/32/10595_2.png) [@Sam](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912/40 "2017-12-20T19:02:39Z")
Well two sides of that explanation, afrezza would explain faster downward motion but would slow down crazy upward spikes for me. So half the time it’s giving the cgm the opportunity to work better and half the time worse… the cgm just doesn’t work well for me regardless of what insulin I’m using That’s what frustrates me about the notion that a lab report would potentially dictate what insurance is going to cover… but oh well… my insurance already only covers strips that are total junk, but they can prove they’re not junk with a lab report! [Previous page](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/freestyle-libre-cost/2912.md?page=3)