Comparing The Accuracy | Freestyle Libre 3 vs Libre 2!

For 14 days I compared the readings from a Freestyle Libre 3 to a Freestyle Libre 2 to see which CGM provides the most accurate glucose readings! Check out the video for the surprising results!
* This is by no means an official study, purely just sharing my own personal experience over 2 weeks.

Study discussing the new improved MARD of the Freestyle Libre 3:

[DISCLAIMER: While I am a Physician Assistant, none of the content I post should be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your doctor or healthcare provider if you have questions about your diabetes management and overall health.]

[tomhawk]

The Libre 3 has been all over the map! The first one was always within 10 pts or less the entire 14 days. The second one was off 50% of the time over 40 pts! And now the third one is off most times by 20 to 35 pts. I have talked with freestyle direct and they offered no answers. You have given me more answers than the manufacturer could. Thanks for the testing and information. 😊

[joep]

Thank you very much for this comparisons of Libre 3, however our experience is more concerning. On the first days night time readings dip very low often triggering false alarms (for example, new sensor last night L3 reported 54 BG, but stick showed 110 BG, almost 2x difference!!). During the day the readings are very high (same as you reported). We are having to do more frequent sticks to verify actual BG. The Libre 2 seemed more accurate to us.

I hope you can redo this very helpful test, this time with more sticks, before breakfast, after lunch, and evening.
Thank you very much!

[MrRooney]

I heard one doctor said that being dehydrated messes up the reading of CGMs, so make sure you drink enough water and see if that affects the readings you get.

[themrnails]

I absolute loath sticking my finger to the point i stopped doing it. I just started using Libre 2. The military VA clinic now supports these (according to them) and am using these multiple times a day and it's preferred. Great QoL little thing. Thanks for the comparison.

[tracyglassmeyer]

I started wearing the Libre 3 but had another eight days to go on my Libre 2, so I thought I’d see if the readings were the same. I’ve found the Libre is always higher. Somewhere between 5-25 points. I like having a smaller reader for summer, but I think I need to be aware the Libre 3 usually runs high.

[BK-gcjm]

I've been using the libre 2 for a few months and I fingerpoke a good amount each day just to make sure I noticed the train that you did that's a really good comparison because it does catch up after a while it's usually about 15 to 20 minutes behind my libre 2 I put my liber3 on today it is nowhere near close to where it is and I wish I could have left my libre 2 on but you can't have two devices on one phone, the good thing about libre is when you call them and complain to them they send you a new libre so I'm going to I only have two libre threes and about six libre twos I'm going to stick with the libre 2 I don't find it inconvenient at all to swipe it by my arm it's not a big deal it's just as hard to pick up my phone and look at it with the libre 3 then it is to swipe my arm but really good for the comparisons cuz I was going to do it too it's not worth the time on my libre 2 when I put it on within a few hours it's accurate I've had this thing on for most part of a day and it's not even close

[arseniog]

I am in my fourth libre 3 and so far one of them was inaccurate and 3 of them has been very accurate, in one case my sensor readings were almost exactly to my glucose reading from my glucometer. I have also many accurate libre 2 sensors but I think i'm having better results with libre 3 until now

[artespop]

Have you done this comparison again?
Once again Thank you for your time and info

[i.p]

I have the Libre 2. Every time the first 48 hours of the sensor show results about 30 above the prick test.. Usually on day 3 it becomes accurate. Next time I will put it on and wait 48 hours before starting it.

[jpsanjo]

Thanks for this awesome, helpful video! I've used the Libre 2 and Libre 3 for about 3 months+. My experience also mirrors your video results. I've found the Libre 2 overall more accurate. The one problem I've had with my last two Libre 3 sensors is sudden low glucose readings (usually around 80 mg/dL or below). It's alarmed me several times that I did a check on my OneTouch Vario, which showed on average 10-20 points higher. This is really concerning because the first couple of times I had low dips, I ate some candy to bring my blood sugar back up. However since the Libre 3 was not reporting as accurately as my OneTouch Vario, I was taking sweet snacks to bring my glucose up unnecessarily. Further note, the constant real-time readings (with these slightly higher or lower inaccurate numbers) are causing me some anxiety. Based on my experiences so far, I'm switching back to the Libre 2.

[KitchenLivinwithShay]

My current batch and last batch of L2 are averaging 25% higher than a finger stick. So frustrating.

[aa-dzcr]

I'm interested in the differences in min/max readings of the 2 sensors. Using the roller coaster analogy, in the difference between either cgm a difference in timing or is there an actual difference in range?

I see how timing would matter for those on insulin but those trying to stay off meds need to know the range to find out if there's an actual problem.

A1c only gives an average and could hide large spikes.

As an aside, do you have a recommendation for a finger stick is inexpensive and accurate?

[philoestreich]

I have had the same experience between the 3 and the 2. I have gone back to the 2. I plan on running the same comparison as you did once my current 2 ends. I so a comparison like did but also check my cgm reading 15 minutes later which tends to eliminated the roller coaster effect. Also the the w updates every 5 minutes and the 3 every minute. So it depends on where you hit the 2 in the 5 minute span. I am type 2. I started using the Lbre14 in September of 2021 my A1c have gone from 7-8 to a low of 5.5. The other factor for me is that Medicare will pay for my 2s and not my 3s. Their reasoning is that Abbot does not provide a reader for the 3 so you need and added device to use it. They insist on a complete solution from the manufacturer.

[Awesome_O_]

I have seen differences in sensors from different batches as well for the Libre 3. First batch was showing lower than expected for 3 sensors in a row with false hypos. Other batch is consistently showing higher values then the glucometer. Seems they changed something in the newer batch.
I also wore a libre 2 and 3 at the same time and libre 2 was actually more accurate during the 2 weeks. But of course this can change per sensor and per batch.

[scottjohnson]

I just started using the LIbre2 a few weeks ago, and I was constantly finding it to be 30+ points off from a blood draw, didn't matter what time of day or eating or not.

[thorritz]

Interesting informal comparison. How does the company run their test I wonder. I suppose as u state both very accurate and I agree that it could be sensor wass calibrated off slightly at company. Would be interested in hearing how company does their study and why they think ur libre 2 gave more accurate readings

[karent]

Question about accuracy of other product--my dexcom 7 and my two glucose meters have a 50mg/dl difference. If dex says 141 and contour meter says 199 and metrix says 172 how do I know?

[Noidentitycrisis]

Do you know the cost difference?
Can you calibrate Les Brie 2?

[Nutingbuthope]

My libree 3 seems more accurate, libre 2 was 10 points off from blood, while libre 3 is only 4 points

[damg]

Pregunt: cuánto tiempo después de tomarte la glucosa del dedo te tomaste la glucosa con los Freestyle? Te pregunto porque los Freestyle siempre van más lentos que los glucometro a, mínimo 10 minutos.- gracias