FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus Box Contains 2 Sensors
Each FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus box contains 2 sensors, with each sensor designed to be worn for 15 days, providing a total of 30 days of continuous glucose monitoring.
Sensor Specifications and Usage
The FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus system represents an evolution in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology with the following key characteristics:
- Each sensor lasts for 15 days (compared to 14 days in earlier versions) 1
- Factory-calibrated sensors that do not require finger-stick calibration 2
- Improved sensor design to reduce vitamin C interference 1
- Real-time glucose data with optional alarms for high and low glucose values 2
Clinical Performance
The FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus system demonstrates excellent accuracy across different age groups:
- 94.2% of readings within ±20 mg/dL/20% of laboratory values in adults 1
- 94.0% of readings within ±20 mg/dL/20% of laboratory values in pediatric patients (6-17 years) 1
- Mean Absolute Relative Difference (MARD) of 8.2% in adults and 8.1% in pediatric patients 1
- Particularly strong performance in the hypoglycemic range, with 97-98% of results within ±15 mg/dL of laboratory values 1
Important Usage Considerations
When using the FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus system, patients should be aware of several key factors:
- The system measures interstitial fluid glucose rather than blood glucose, which may result in differences between sensor readings and blood glucose values, particularly during rapid glucose changes 3
- After glucose loading, FreeStyle Libre readings may be higher than actual plasma glucose concentrations 3
- Regular scanning of the sensor is required to capture complete 24-hour data (at least every 8 hours) 2
- Adherence to the recommended 15-day replacement schedule is crucial for maintaining optimal accuracy 4
Clinical Utility
The FreeStyle Libre system offers several advantages for diabetes management:
- Reduces the need for painful finger-stick blood glucose tests 5
- Associated with reduction in hypoglycemia in randomized trials 5
- Observational studies show improvements in HbA1c levels 5
- High user satisfaction and low adverse event rates 5
- Lower cost compared to other real-time CGM systems 5
Potential Pitfalls
Healthcare providers and patients should be aware of these important considerations:
- Proper sensor placement is critical, especially in smaller patients 6
- Therapeutic decisions should not be made based solely on CGM readings during rapid glucose changes or suspected hypoglycemia without confirmation 2
- Patient education on proper interpretation of glucose data is essential for maximizing benefits 4
- Scanning frequency tends to decrease over time, which may impact the clinical benefits 7
The FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus system represents an important advancement in diabetes management technology, providing 30 days of continuous glucose monitoring with two 15-day sensors per box.