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:
doi.org/10.2337/db22-76-LB
For Business Inquiries/Questions: [e-mail]
[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.]

[@tomhawk8240]

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. 😊

[@diabetesdailydigest]

No problem! Thank you!!

[@MrRooney182]

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.

[@joep5170]

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!

[@angels1four1]

Great video. Thanks and take care🙏🏽

[@diabetesdailydigest]

Thank you!! You too!

[@tracyglassmeyer4183]

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.

[@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.

[@diabetesdailydigest]

No problem!

[@BK-gc1jm]

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

[@dumbachari]

Super helpfull video! thank you.

[@diabetesdailydigest]

Glad it was helpful!

[@artespop1]

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

[@diabetesdailydigest]

Not yet, but I will in the future. Thank you

[@kokovox]

Great content!

[@diabetesdailydigest]

Thank you!

[@philoestreich2831]

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.

[@arseniog2]

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

[@diabetesdailydigest]

Good to hear!! Thank you!

[@roidroid]

Do you have enough data to do an MART test to see if they a align with the company's rated MART test?

[@KitchenLivinwithShay]

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

[@aa-dz6cr]

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?

[@jpsanjo]

Thanks!

[@diabetesdailydigest]

Thank you so much!

[@karent1652]

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?

[@scottjohnson5132]

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.

[@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.

[@diabetesdailydigest]

No problem, I’m glad to hear it was helpful! Lets hope in time the accuracy improves, possibly with software updates or even changes with the factory calibration.

[@tomhawk8240]

The instructions for the libre 3 says to always take the finger stick test Pryor to treatment of hi or low spikes.

[@tinafisher6396]

Thank you for this! Which finger stick system did you use?

[@diabetesdailydigest]

No problem! I used a one touch glucometer.

[@Awesome_O_2000]

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.

[@diabetesdailydigest]

That’s the thing with Libre, the accuracy often varies from sensor to sensor. Really hope they work on improving that in the future, consistency is key.

[@thorritz8520]

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

[@diabetesdailydigest]

I believe when they do studies they compare the CGM readings to a venipuncture glucose test which is the most accurate way to test blood glucose.

[@jeffgilmore3147]

I'm finding my libre 3 is running a little high. I was hoping I wouldn't get as many false "compression low" alarms in the middle of the night with the smaller libre 3 but still getting those. I was using the libre 14 day which seemed to show very low but I don't miss scanning and I had no alarms on my phone with the libre 14 day. I'm T2D.

[@diabetesdailydigest]

I was also hoping the Libre 3 would fix the compression lows, I do think there was a mild improvement, although still present. Overall the no scanning is a huge upgrade and it really is a great CGM.

[@acs5008]

The video was helpful because I was thinking of getting the Libre 3. I am T2 and not on insulin so pay out of pocket, the cost would be the same for me but would have switched for the audible alarms when running high or low. I think and in my opinion when doing this test if you decide to do again would be to time it to end when doing A1C , so as to compare all 3 averages with the actual A1C average. I think I will stick with Libre 2, and hope that Libre 3 is improved before😊 Libre2 is discontinued , as that is usually the case when they bring about a new version.

[@dennisma7178]

How much are you paying out of pocket for Libre 2?

[@acs5008]

@@dennisma7178I am not sure if it is ok to tell on line, so I am going to say allegedly, 2 boxes (1mt), maybe 85, it went up $10 since last year. If you are getting cheaper please let me know.

[@RoiPourpre]

I'm carrying my first freestyle 3 and I've never had such a high difference between the blood test and the sensor test... The sensor tells me I'm at 107 and in reality I'm at 127, I've never had such differences with the freestyle libre 2... I'm extremely disappointed with the product, I'm going to ask my clinic if I can go back to freestyle libre 2 because it's no longer possible...

[@spr1334]

You would have to run this test several more times to eliminate bad sensors.

[@Nutingbuthope]

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

[@Nyshadow77]

Thoughts on the POGO automatic meter.

[@diabetesdailydigest]

It’s a good meter, I love that it does all the work for you, I just find it a bit pricey for most of my patients.

[@Noidentitycrisis]

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

[@diabetesdailydigest]

Cost should be very similar if not the same. Unfortunately the Libre 2 and Libre 3 CGM do not allow for calibration.

[@damg2762]

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

[@diabetesdailydigest]

Los dos fueron tomados al mismo tiempo

[@damg2762]

@@diabetesdailydigest hermano per al ser de capilar y de espacio intersticial, lo ideal hubiese sido 10 minutos de diferencia entre aparatos, pero muchas gracias 🙏🙏

[@diabetesdailydigest]

@@damg2762 Buen punto, aunque la diferencia de tiempo entre el fluido intersticial y la glucosa en sangre es más importante cuando hay aumentos rápidos y disminuciones rápidas en los niveles de glucosa, para asegurarme de que esto no fuera tanto un problema, hice todo lo posible por medir mi glucosa solo cuando mis niveles estaban estables.

[@damg2762]

@@diabetesdailydigest muchas gracias por la aclaración, te pregunté eso por el efecto Osmotico, entre solventes/ solutos.- de nuevo 🙏🙏

[@patabbathon1466]

Interesting comparison. Thought that lbre 3 would kick butt. Can't go to libre 3 yet. Medicare won't cover. Having problem with libre 2 sensors. I've used about 12 so far and only 3 have gone full term. 2 malfuntions in one day. Some malfunctions after 10 days. Had 2 of them read super low in 50s and 60s in last two days!! Your thoughts anyone? Please comment!! Could body chemustry be a cause?

[@diabetesdailydigest]

From my experience sometimes it can just be a bad batch of sensors that read inaccurate. Make sure you contact Abbott to have them replaced.

[@kimlaw2425]

I got about the same L2 numbers it is pretty close to sticking!

[@diabetesdailydigest]

Good to hear!

[@dennisma7178]

Some people think thigh is better location (fatty vs muscular) for these sensors. Is that true?

[@diabetesdailydigest]

While I believe you still could obtain fairly accurate readings in that location, from all of the studies I’ve researched, majority found the best accuracy was on the back of the arm.

[@pi3ni0]

Similar experience in my case

[@polymath9372]

It would be interesting to hear what a practising statistician would say about your results. I suspect that they would say *"insufficient data"* , and that data from one person for one sensor of each type wasn't much better than hearsay...

[@diabetesdailydigest]

Agreed. Just wanted to share my personal experience. Certainly not an official report or study though.

[@randyruble3080]

What meter did you use?

[@diabetesdailydigest]

One Touch glucometer.

[@kickrocks_]

On my fourth sensor with either errors on the libre 3 or off by as much as 100 points. The three is very bad at this point unfortunately.

[@diabetesdailydigest]

I'm so sorry to hear that, hopefully they'll make some changes in the app or production to improve the inconsistencies.

[@cjadams7434]

It might have a good score but iafter 3 days it still is 22 points higher than my blood based meter sadly