Getting data from the FreeStyle Libre glucose sensor is easy

  I have been having glucose-related issues for many years. Although diagnostic data indicates I am diabetic, I am not taking any medication for diabetes. However, I was always concerned about its possible effects. While my lipid profiles were under safe 'standard values', I suffered a heart attack in 2022. I decided to look at my glucose values more closely to make adjustments in my lifestyle and diet. The only diagnostic at my disposal was the painful pricking of the finger and measuring with a strip. This is totally unsatisfactory as it can provide only a single data point. I have always wondered how healthcare providers make decisions on this single value measured in a doctor's office once every couple of months.

Fortunately, I was able to get a Freestyle Libre glucose sensor (Freestyle Libre 14-day). Now, at least I have a tool to look at what I am eating and associate it with glucose levels. I have been having it for the past two days. The display available on the Libre Link app which is available for Android and iPhones is quite nice, but I want to look at it in more ways.  The Libre website gives access to this data on their website. 

The sensor gets data about interstitial glucose every 15 minutes and stores it on the website. Here is how you can get the data. 

These are screenshots of the steps I took to get the data on the website to my computer. It is a Dell laptop with Windows 64 OS, and I also have Microsoft Excel on the computer.

This is Libre View from the Libre website

You need to agree before you proceed.

You need to log in to download data. This means you have purchased the sensor and installed the Libre link app on your phone (Android or iPhone). Note that you have enabled two-factor authorization.

After being verified you got access to the site.

Now click Download Glucose data at the top-right corner.

Your data appears in your Downloads folder on your computer.

Here is a sample of the downloaded data.

I have clipped off some personal information.

Although I have shown a few columns, there are a lot more useful columns that contain data related to custom test times and notes associated with those events.

Hope this helps. 

Added later (9/7/2023)

Freestyle Libre provides a comprehensive report at the end of the 14th day with many details. This includes the daily glucose variation, the superposed view of daily glucose variation showing the variation of glucose at any selected time. It also provides the 'time in range' data showing in all what percent of the total time you were in a safe zone (70 oto180 mg/dL) and what percent you went above and below this range. A well-managed diabetic will be more than 75% of the time within the safe zone.

One thing I noticed that was concerning was that at any point in time, the CGM value was less than the value found by pricking the finger (capillary measurement) and measuring with a meter ("one-touch") in my case).