5 Reasons You Should Use The Reader And NOT Your Phone To Scan The Freestyle Libre 2!

Lets review 5 reasons why the reader is superior to the phone for scanning your Freestyle Libre 2!
Enjoy the video!

[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.]

[vinnybrowne]

I have an Android so maybe it's different. I am able to disable the urgent low alarm. Not through the app, I just turn off Bluetooth. I also do not need to open the app to scan. I just pick up my phone and unlock it with my fingerprint and scan the sensor. It reads the sensor and automatically opens the app. For me personally, unless I'm purposefully turning off Bluetooth, I have not had it disconnect from my phone.

[jamiewilliams]

If you press and hold the icon on iOS a drop down appears, and you can click scan sensor. When you do, it’ll open the app where it is already to scan without having to do the extra steps. Also, if you develop some iOS shortcuts, those can save you a lot of time too.

[Johnii-hq]

Been using Freestyle since 2019. Went to the 2 as soon as it came out. The app has received several updates since this VIDEO was released. Every single CON you listed is no longer an issue with the latest version of the Freestyle 2 App.
1. Silent Mode added (to shut off alarms for a specified amount of time
2. There is no SCAN button... you unlock your phone and scan the sensor... NO 2nd or 3rd step
3. Scan errors still happen but just hold the phone to the sensor it automatically rescans.

All I can say to his comments are... keep the app running... don't shut the app off. I keep my app on 24/7... I have no issues with my phone charge either.

[debrahill]

Thanks for the information. I have been diabetic for over 40 years. Just today getting ready to put on my second Libre2 sensor. I had debated using my phone but I had thought of several of the same reasons you gave for staying with the reader and was glad to find your channel and hearing you say the same things. Thanks. I’ll be watching for you - I subscribed.

[grumpyinbrooklyn]

The Libre 14 day with the app was actually a pain in the neck to scan on the phone! I was using the Galaxy S22+ last. Scan failures were more than 50% of the time! But having switched to the Libre3 now, I LOVE it!

[KS-bytz]

Your points were spot on! I was about to donate 5 Libre 2 sensors and 2 scanners until I came upon your video. I did not think about using my scanner so that I could turn off the alarms, not to mention the other things you pointed out: reader errors, the phone app beeping every 5 minutes because it says it lost signal (even though it is in your back pocket), scanning ease while driving (versus the 3 clicks with your phone). Any medical person prescribing the "2" to people should definitely let them know that unless they are hard of hearing, or sleep really, really deep, the alarm for going below 55 will wake up an entire household, and startle the heck out of the diabetic while waking them up. Disappointing considering I was looking forward to that alarm feature due to my nightly lows. Libre should fix the app such that you can control the volume according to your ears and the way you sleep, with or without a low. Thanks a ton!

[drewman]

Thank You for posting & sharing your experience … Just received mine as a first time user and based on your opinions I’m going to use the supplied reader instead of my smartphone.

[arnojones]

4 of 5 of your reasons are why I switched back to the reader. Another reason is that I have to get my phone seemingly exactly in the right position to get a reading. In the summer it's okay, but as the weather gets colder and I wear more layers, it's difficult to find the sensor when I can't even feel the sensor. With the reader I just wave it around in the general area and I get the reading.

[rbranjan]

You nailed it, my friend! I am a new user (almost done my 2nd sensor). Libre 2 has really changed my life in a positive way, despite its *low zone* (in)accuracies! The battery life, and other stuff you mentioned (signal loss, too many steps etc) have bothered me too. Thank you for your sharing and also your style of presentation! Your speed of delivery is perfect, your factual and crisp presentation tells me that you are a *science* guy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I have been a diabetic for now 40+ years and had been on insulin before 2016 and again now (Beta tank is empty! ;-)
Back recently on insulin and Libre 2 has been a god-sent!

[Baster]

I love my iPhone and do all my readings, boluses from there. I hated carrying the pdm or the libre reader. There was times I used to go mad because I had lost it somewhere in the house.
I have no issues u have mentioned with my iPhone and run a closed loop on it.

[lourdesestrada]

I just got the freestyle libre 2, thank you for the info, and reading the comments. Definitely will just use the reader.

[Kary_Atl]

This comes to preferences, I was hoping there was something more specific to the reader results and not to what you consider inconvenience b/c it’s hard for you to follow an xtra step to use the cell phone app. Other that signal loss very sporadic I appreciate the use and ease of the Mobil app, instead of carrying an extra device which is very expensive and you don’t need. I can do with a $10 glucose meter and still use the phone app. 👍

[emb]

Helpful video. I’m new to CGM. I’m fortunate in that I’m a mild type 2 (I like to call it insulin resistant) so I don’t need to use it all the time. I will just use it occasionally to check that I’m eating right. I was going to use the phone app but these are all good reasons to use the reader. Thanks.

[georgesgutierrez]

My endocrinologist set me up with a trial sensor using my Android Smartphone (Motorola Edge 2020). Just got on it today 5.20 2022. Still trying to get used to the ins and outs of it but so far no issues. Thanks for the videos. Looking forward to using this device and will definitely check out your other videos

[lindacharman]

Very helpful as I have just started with LIBRE ✔️

[peterholthoffman]

Good video!

I used my phone for months and had never used the reader. When I read the documentation, it seemed the phone was the clear winner.

Then my phone died and I had to switch to the reader.

I do not plan on ever going back to my phone! Everything you said is exactly my experience (I've been on Android) and the reader is superior for all the reasons you gave.

[bazz]

I'm going to try the reader, the phone has a lot of errors and looses signal straight after a reading sometimes. I do like the convenience of just having the phone but like you say it can go flat in a day.

[daniellencooper]

Seriously considering going back to the reader because using the phone app just keeps me addicted to my phone. The things I do like about the phone app are that my partner can see my readings on libre link-up, my readings get sent to the endo, and I can link to things like the sugar pixel clock, which is really useful

[Tonytall]

Wonderful information! Last 3 sensors and iPhone 12 as reader the fault codes and incorrect LOW GLUCOSE warnings have sent me back to finger sticking! Next sensor will be synced with Libre reader!!!

[steveorc]

About to try this and wondering which would be better. Using the reader for sure now. Thank you