The FreeStyle Libre 3 System: Getting Started Guide

Introduction

The FreeStyle Libre 3 system is a new way for people with diabetes to check their sugar levels.

Sugar comes from the food we eat and our bodies turn it into energy using something called 'insulin'.

Most people's bodies make their own insulin, but diabetes is a disease where your body either:

• can't make enough insulin or
• can't make any insulin at all.

People with diabetes have to check their sugar levels and inject the right amount of insulin to deal with it.

Traditionally, people check their sugar levels by pricking their finger and testing their blood.

[Image description: A person holding a baby, a collection of fruits, a diagram of blood vessels, a vial of insulin with a syringe, and a finger pricking a blood glucose meter.]

How the FreeStyle Libre 3 System Works

The FreeStyle Libre 3 system can check your sugar levels without a finger prick test.

Instead, it uses a sensor placed on the back of your upper arm. A sensor is a small device that can read changes in the liquid just underneath your skin.

Sometimes, you may still need to do a finger prick test if you feel different to what the reading and alarm are indicating.

This guide will help you get started with the FreeStyle Libre 3 system.

[Image description: A man wearing a FreeStyle Libre 3 sensor on his upper arm, looking at his smartphone displaying glucose data. A yellow triangle contains the text "easy read" and an icon representing a document with lines. A disclaimer states that the pictures are only to help understand the guide and the people/sugar levels shown are not real patients' data.]

What the FreeStyle Libre 3 System Does

The FreeStyle Libre 3 system:

• Provides information about your sugar levels every minute.
• Can send information about your sugar levels to your smartphone. A smartphone is a phone that connects to the internet.
• Has a good internet connection so it can always give you information.
• Has alarms to let you know when your sugar levels are too high or too low.

[Image description: A diagram of blood vessels with an information icon ℹ️. A hand holding a smartphone with various app icons. A woman holding a smartphone displaying a Wi-Fi symbol. A hand holding a smartphone with an alert icon ❗.]

How the FreeStyle Libre 3 System Works

Your FreeStyle Libre 3 sensor will send information about your sugar levels to the FreeStyle Libre 3 app on your phone, every minute.

[Image description: A smartphone displaying glucose data, with an arrow pointing from the sensor on an arm to the phone. A smartphone displaying app icons. A smartphone displaying glucose data next to a clock. A woman wearing glasses looking at a smartphone. A volume icon ? with an exclamation mark ❗.]

An app is a computer programme that you have on your phone to help you do something.

On your app, you can:

• Look at your sugar level information every minute.
• Look at your sugar level information from the past.
• Set alarms to tell you when your sugar levels are too high or too low.

Setting Up the App

To start using the FreeStyle Libre 3 app, you need to set it up on your phone.

[Image description: A woman using a phone. A laptop displaying a question mark ❓. App store icons (Apple App Store, Google Play). A smartphone with a search bar.]

The FreeStyle Libre 3 app can only be set up on some types of phone. Have a look at our guide to see whether your phone can get the app: www.freestylediabetes.co.uk/compatibility-guides

Follow these steps to set the app up:

1. Go to your phone's app store.
2. Type 'FreeStyle Libre 3' where it says 'Search'.

[Image description: A smartphone showing the app download screen for FreeStyle Libre 3 - GB.]

3. Look for FreeStyle Libre 3 - GB and tap it.

4. Tap 'Get' - the app is free to get and use.

5. Sign in or set up a LibreView account. If you have a LibreView account, use the same email and password.

[Image description: The LibreView logo. A document with a checkmark ✔️, representing an agreement.]

6. Read and accept the agreement.

Putting On Your Sensor

To start using your FreeStyle Libre 3 sensor, you need to attach it to the back of your upper arm.

The sensor will already be set up with a sensor applicator. You will use this to put the sensor on the back of your upper arm.

Follow these steps to put on your sensor:

1. Clean a flat area on the back of your upper arm by:
   • Washing the area with soap and water.
   • Drying it.
   • Wiping the area with an alcohol wipe.
   • Leaving it to dry before the next step.

[Image description: A woman's upper arm with a sensor being applied. A sensor applicator. A woman's arm being cleaned with a wipe.]

2. Unscrew the cap of the sensor applicator and put it to one side.

3. Place the sensor applicator over the area on your arm that you have cleaned and dried.

4. Push down firmly to put the sensor onto the back of your upper arm.

5. Listen for the click and then wait a few seconds.

6. Gently and slowly pull the sensor applicator away from your arm.

7. Make sure the sensor is stuck tight.

[Image description: Close-up of sensor applicator. Woman's arm with applicator. Woman applying sensor. Man listening ?. Woman's arm with sensor attached. Woman with a checkmark ✔️ indicating success.]

Starting Your Sensor

To start getting information from your sensor on your smartphone app, you need to scan your sensor.

If you have an iPhone:

1. Open the FreeStyle Libre 3 app.
2. Go to the app's 'Main Menu' and tap 'Start New Sensor'.
3. Hold the top of your iPhone near the sensor.
4. Wait until you hear a tone or feel a vibration. This means that it has worked okay.

[Image description: A man wearing a sensor on his arm. An iPhone ?. The FreeStyle Libre 3 app icon. A man using his phone. A hand holding an iPhone near a sensor. A volume icon ?.]

If you have any other kind of smartphone that works with the app:

1. Open the FreeStyle Libre 3 app.
2. Go to the app's 'Main Menu' and tap 'Start New Sensor'.
3. Hold the back of your smartphone near the sensor.
4. You may need to turn on 'Near Field Communication' in your phone's settings if the app is not working.

[Image description: A hand holding a smartphone. The FreeStyle Libre 3 app icon. A woman using her phone. A diagram showing a smartphone near a sensor. A clock face.]

The sensor will begin to send your sugar level information to your smartphone after an hour of setting it up.

Removing Your Sensor

You must replace your sensor every 14 days.

[Image description: A calendar showing days of the week with checkmarks ✔️.]

To remove your sensor, slowly peel it off your skin and attach a new one.

Remember to choose a different area on the back of your upper arm.

[Image description: A woman holding her arm. A woman's back showing her upper arm.]

Understanding Your App

Here's how to understand your sugar level information on your FreeStyle Libre 3 app.

[Image description: A smartphone displaying glucose data.]

The background colour of your app tells you where your sugar levels are. Here's what the colours mean:

• Orange: This means your sugar levels are too high. [Orange block with ⬆️ arrow]
• Green: This means your sugar levels are just right. [Green block with ✔️ checkmark]
• Red: This means your sugar levels are too low. [Red block with ⬇️ arrow]
• Yellow: This means your sugar levels are starting to get either too high or too low. [Yellow block with ↔️ arrows]

There is also a number on your app which tells you where your sugar levels are.

A message will tell you whether your sugar levels are going up or down.

[Image description: A yellow arrow indicating the direction of sugar levels ↗️↘️.]

If you are not sure about a message or reading, ask your doctor for advice.

An arrow will tell you how quickly your sugar levels are going up or down.

[Image description: Blue arrows indicating the speed of change in sugar levels.]

Your app will also have a graph that shows how your sugar levels have changed over the past 12 hours.

[Image description: A graph showing glucose levels over time.]

Your Sugar Level Information History

[Image description: A man with an information icon ℹ️.]

Your app will also give you information about your past sugar level information. It will tell you:

• How often your sugar levels were too high or too low.
• How well your sugar levels have been managed.
• Where your sugar levels have usually been during the day.

[Image description: Smartphone displaying historical data. Smartphone displaying average glucose. Smartphone displaying daily glucose patterns.]

Sugar Level Alarms

[Image description: A volume icon ? with an exclamation mark ❗.]

You can set alarms on your app that will let you know when your sugar levels are too high or too low.

Follow these steps to set up an alarm on your app:

1. Make sure you have turned on 'Bluetooth' and 'Notifications' on your smartphone.
2. In the app, go to 'Main Menu' and tap 'Alarms'.
3. Select the alarm you want to set. You can set an alarm for: too high, too low, internet connection loss.

[Image description: A checkmark ✔️ with a notification icon. A man looking at his phone. A smartphone screen showing alarm settings.]

4. Set your normal sugar level information - this is where your sugar levels should be.

5. You can change the sound of the alarm if you would like.

[Image description: A volume icon ? with a "Change" button ?.]

Sharing Your Sugar Level Information With Your Doctor

LibreView

LibreView is a website that helps your doctor see your sugar level information.

[Image description: A laptop displaying the LibreView website.]

Your app will send all of your sugar level information to your LibreView account automatically when your phone is connected to the internet. Only you and your doctor will be able to look at your LibreView account.

This can help you make decisions about your health together.

[Image description: A woman holding her phone with a lock icon. A doctor and patient discussing health information.]

Follow these steps to set up sharing your sugar level information to LibreView:

1. In the app, go to 'Main Menu' and tap 'Connected Apps'.
2. Then tap 'Connect' or 'Manage'.
3. Ask your doctor's surgery for their 'LibreView Practice ID'.
4. Type the 'Practice ID' into your app.
5. Tap 'Next' and then 'Connect'.

[Image description: A woman using her phone. A woman giving a thumbs up. A doctor and patient with a question mark ❓. An app screen showing "Connected Apps" and "LibreView" with a field to enter Practice ID. A laptop with an email icon.]

Your doctor's surgery can also send you an invitation to share your information through email.

Contact and Further Information

You can accept the invitation in your app by tapping 'Accept Invitation'.

If you need more information, please call the Abbott Customer Careline on: 0800 170 1177

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, or Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Or you can go to our website: www.FreeStyleDiabetes.co.uk

[Image description: A butterfly ? icon and the Abbott logo.]

© 2022 Abbott. FreeStyle, Libre, and related brand marks are marks of Abbott. ADC-51736 (v1.0) 02/2022

This Easy Read information has been produced by easy-read-online.co.uk