Your sensor is applied to the back of your upper arm with a simple, disposable device called an applicator. When your Sensor is applied, a small (5mm) filament is inserted just under the skin, and held in place with a small adhesive pad. Most people don't feel pain when applying their FreeStyle Libre Sensor.^{†,^} Also, Libre 3 users have reported that the sensor is painless to wear. ^^
* Sensor refers to the FreeStyle Libre 2, FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus or FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor.
† Data on file. In a study conducted by Abbott Diabetes Care, 93.4% of patients surveyed (n=30) did not feel discomfort under the skin while wearing the Sensor.
^ The data from this study was collected using the FreeStyle Libre system. Sale of the original FreeStyle Libre system has been discontinued in the Ireland Market. The FreeStyle Libre 2 system is for sale, providing the same benefits as the original FreeStyle Libre system, with the added functionalites of optional Real-Time Alarms.
^^ Alva, S. Diabetes Therapy (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13300-023-01385-6.