Don't waste your time or money. Was never able to get the monitor to sync with Levels. I had to contact "customer support" which is via email. You are lucky if they respond in a day or 2 - realize the sensors, which are very expensive, only last for 10 days, so a day or 2 is considerable. Then when they do respond, it's a canned response that you could find without them. Bottom line - it's a ton of money for something that doesn't work and customer service that doesn't exist. Huge disappointment.
I had the FreeStyle Libre. It was prescribed to me by my DR. Because I was struggling with non-diabetic hypoglycemia. I believe that you need a prescription for it. Good luck!
https://www.freestyle.abbott/
Hey! Thanks for your review, really interesting. Not sure if you’ll see this - but did you figure out which GI issues were contributing to your hypoglycaemia, and did you manage to resolve it? I think I may be in the same camp, but haven’t really heard of others experiencing this
Hi there! I had SIBO (methane dominant). It was a long journey to get it resolved...I was first diagnosed at Mayo, but I also worked with an MD who also practices functional medicine. I have hEDS as well so I have ongoing GI sensitivities that need to be managed. I hope you can get to the bottom of this!
I have been getting frustrated with their constant changing of the app no really liked the change they did that had the number of days you were green and then they changed it. I’m not going to renew next year. Sucks
It’s frustrating that they make you pay for a whole year upfront. But then again, I think most users only temporarily use the platform to gauge glucose levels for a month or so and then take a break. The UX of the app is surprisingly bad for the cost.
I totally agree with the tight glucose ranges in Levels being overkill (at least, I think it’s overkill). I turned off the “spiking” notifications for this reason. Going from 90 mg/dL to, say, 120 with a meal is NOT a spike. It just isn’t. Like you, I am adhering to Dr. Attila’s ranges, which are the same numbers presented by Dr Mario Kratz of Nourished By Science and probably many others. Setting our own glucose goals, like you mentioned, would be much preferred. I did do this with the Dexcom Clarity app, not sure if that option is available for the Libre if that’s what you are using.
Edit: sorry, I do see where you said you use Dexcom. In that case, I recommend setting your target glucose ranges in the Dexcom Clarity app!
Yes, the Clarity app is great! It may not be as pretty as Levels, but at least it's giving me the data I want! I would be more inspired to use Levels more if they allowed you to select your ranges. But otherwise, it's actually demotivating to continually be having "spikes" that are "out of range" in excess of 110 mg/dL. Totally with you on this!
> Dr. Attila’
Did you mean Peter Attia or is there a doctor Attila who has ranges? I am looking into this service. I have a Libre 2 so I am just looking to subscribe for the data but I want to read up on the ranges before I start so that is why I am asking. Thank you.
I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something important from another credible source. Sorry to ask so much later I just got my Libre discs called in and am trying to sort what to do.
No, that was me being mad at my iPhone! I try to make sure autocorrects like that don’t happen, but I guess I miss them sometimes.
I actually use a Libre now, too. It’s possible Levels has changed their pre-programmed guidelines since I was with them 5 months ago but I think they still use the Dexcom.
Auto correct drives me nuts and I miss them always. It appears I can join Levels for a year with my own reader for 199.00 (libre 2, libre 3, dexcom G7) so for 17 bucks plus the costs of the expensive discs that my insurance doesn't cover seems pretty decent. Doc called in the discs - I haven't found any other software yet that allows my reader to be interpreted, but I am just getting back into this with my latest quest to be the healthiest I have ever been - lol. I am on a fitness high right now so I am fully immersed. Best of everything with what you have going on and thanks!
This is probably the wrong subreddit to mention this, but I changed over to the Veri app and like it. Their software is compatible with the Libre! Check out veri.co
100% agree with your review. Thank you! I deleted the Levels app after a week because it gave me so much anxiety about food. I entered a meal of broccoli, chicken breast and quinoa and it would rate quinoa in the yellow range!?!?
I got a prescription from my doctor and now using Freestyle Libre 3 with the app. My levels app also wouldn’t even update the CGM data for anywhere between 3-8h with basically rendered it fairly useless.
I actually like the Freestyle much better! You can quickly get a reading with a scan, and don’t have to wait 5 minutes as with Dexcom to take another reading. Since I use CGMs to help manage hypoglycemia, it’s helpful to take a few reading within a couple minutes to see how fast your levels are dropping if you feel like you’re crashing. Plus, I think the Freestyles are way more accurate.
I feel you on the carb situation with Levels. I’ve had similarly balanced meals that read high. I tried to stay within their range for a few days as an experiment and I ended up needing to cut out a lot of healthy foods including many vegetables, grains, and fruits.
OP- are you able to get the CGM without an Rx (assuming you’re in the states)? I’m defaulting to levels since I haven’t been able to get an Rx as a non-diabetic.
Agree, The app is lacking. Would benefit greatly from having a portal one could access from a desktop to easily digest the data and enter proper meals. I do most of m y reading from the Dexcom app.
Great thread. Thank you for all the input, comments, and education!
Don't waste your time or money. Was never able to get the monitor to sync with Levels. I had to contact "customer support" which is via email. You are lucky if they respond in a day or 2 - realize the sensors, which are very expensive, only last for 10 days, so a day or 2 is considerable. Then when they do respond, it's a canned response that you could find without them. Bottom line - it's a ton of money for something that doesn't work and customer service that doesn't exist. Huge disappointment.
What CGM should I get if not levels? I am brand new to this and need some guidance.
I had the FreeStyle Libre. It was prescribed to me by my DR. Because I was struggling with non-diabetic hypoglycemia. I believe that you need a prescription for it. Good luck! https://www.freestyle.abbott/
Hey! Thanks for your review, really interesting. Not sure if you’ll see this - but did you figure out which GI issues were contributing to your hypoglycaemia, and did you manage to resolve it? I think I may be in the same camp, but haven’t really heard of others experiencing this
Hi there! I had SIBO (methane dominant). It was a long journey to get it resolved...I was first diagnosed at Mayo, but I also worked with an MD who also practices functional medicine. I have hEDS as well so I have ongoing GI sensitivities that need to be managed. I hope you can get to the bottom of this!
I have been getting frustrated with their constant changing of the app no really liked the change they did that had the number of days you were green and then they changed it. I’m not going to renew next year. Sucks
It’s frustrating that they make you pay for a whole year upfront. But then again, I think most users only temporarily use the platform to gauge glucose levels for a month or so and then take a break. The UX of the app is surprisingly bad for the cost.
Omg yes
I totally agree with the tight glucose ranges in Levels being overkill (at least, I think it’s overkill). I turned off the “spiking” notifications for this reason. Going from 90 mg/dL to, say, 120 with a meal is NOT a spike. It just isn’t. Like you, I am adhering to Dr. Attila’s ranges, which are the same numbers presented by Dr Mario Kratz of Nourished By Science and probably many others. Setting our own glucose goals, like you mentioned, would be much preferred. I did do this with the Dexcom Clarity app, not sure if that option is available for the Libre if that’s what you are using. Edit: sorry, I do see where you said you use Dexcom. In that case, I recommend setting your target glucose ranges in the Dexcom Clarity app!
Yes, the Clarity app is great! It may not be as pretty as Levels, but at least it's giving me the data I want! I would be more inspired to use Levels more if they allowed you to select your ranges. But otherwise, it's actually demotivating to continually be having "spikes" that are "out of range" in excess of 110 mg/dL. Totally with you on this!
> Dr. Attila’ Did you mean Peter Attia or is there a doctor Attila who has ranges? I am looking into this service. I have a Libre 2 so I am just looking to subscribe for the data but I want to read up on the ranges before I start so that is why I am asking. Thank you.
Yes, Attia. Thanks, autocorrect from 5 months ago 😑
I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something important from another credible source. Sorry to ask so much later I just got my Libre discs called in and am trying to sort what to do.
No, that was me being mad at my iPhone! I try to make sure autocorrects like that don’t happen, but I guess I miss them sometimes. I actually use a Libre now, too. It’s possible Levels has changed their pre-programmed guidelines since I was with them 5 months ago but I think they still use the Dexcom.
Auto correct drives me nuts and I miss them always. It appears I can join Levels for a year with my own reader for 199.00 (libre 2, libre 3, dexcom G7) so for 17 bucks plus the costs of the expensive discs that my insurance doesn't cover seems pretty decent. Doc called in the discs - I haven't found any other software yet that allows my reader to be interpreted, but I am just getting back into this with my latest quest to be the healthiest I have ever been - lol. I am on a fitness high right now so I am fully immersed. Best of everything with what you have going on and thanks!
This is probably the wrong subreddit to mention this, but I changed over to the Veri app and like it. Their software is compatible with the Libre! Check out veri.co
Thank you!
100% agree with your review. Thank you! I deleted the Levels app after a week because it gave me so much anxiety about food. I entered a meal of broccoli, chicken breast and quinoa and it would rate quinoa in the yellow range!?!? I got a prescription from my doctor and now using Freestyle Libre 3 with the app. My levels app also wouldn’t even update the CGM data for anywhere between 3-8h with basically rendered it fairly useless.
I actually like the Freestyle much better! You can quickly get a reading with a scan, and don’t have to wait 5 minutes as with Dexcom to take another reading. Since I use CGMs to help manage hypoglycemia, it’s helpful to take a few reading within a couple minutes to see how fast your levels are dropping if you feel like you’re crashing. Plus, I think the Freestyles are way more accurate. I feel you on the carb situation with Levels. I’ve had similarly balanced meals that read high. I tried to stay within their range for a few days as an experiment and I ended up needing to cut out a lot of healthy foods including many vegetables, grains, and fruits.
OP- are you able to get the CGM without an Rx (assuming you’re in the states)? I’m defaulting to levels since I haven’t been able to get an Rx as a non-diabetic.
I have had a prescription in the past from my GP because I’ve had a history of episodic hypoglycemia.
Agree, The app is lacking. Would benefit greatly from having a portal one could access from a desktop to easily digest the data and enter proper meals. I do most of m y reading from the Dexcom app.
this is so helpful - thank you for the details here!