Continuous Glucose Monitoring CGM Available in Ireland

This page was updated 20 December 2023

Announcement: As of 1 December 2023, the age limit of 21 years has been removed from access to the Freestyle Libre in Ireland. Abbott also announced that Freestyle Libre2 is now available in Ireland to all ages.

Continuous and Flash Glucose monitoring systems, sometimes referred to as “patches, " are devices that monitor glucose levels 24 hours a day. It takes a glucose value every 5 minutes or less, giving the wearer an average blood glucose level and where it’s heading (trend arrow) for that hour. For more information about how CGMs work, this webpage, “About CGMs,” provides more details.

There are currently four companies offering six CGM Systems in Ireland at the moment: Abbott, Dexcom, GlucoRx and Medtronic. However, many more CGM devices are available in other countries, such as Libre 3, Medtrum, Dexcom One, and Eversense.

If you would like to know more about how CGMs work or how to get a Glucose Sensor in Ireland, click the buttons below:

How CGMs work

Getting a CGM

Overview of CGMs Available in Ireland

The four companies and the systems providing CGM Systems in Ireland are;

Abbott provides the Freestyle Libre,
Dexcom G6 and G7,
Medtronic offers the Guardian Connect System and
Windsor Pharmaceuticals provides the GlucoRx Aidex

All the CGMs listed below are available to buy online or through your local chemist and are included in the HSE’s Long-Term Illness scheme. However, you do need to qualify for an HSE-approved CGM. See more about the qualifying criteria here.

The Diabetes Nurse Specialists UK Forum website forum has put a brilliant table together on their website if you would like to view the CGMs available in the UK side by side. This can be viewed here.

The CGMs available in Ireland are listed below in alphabetical order by name of device.

Dexcom G7

Dexcom G7 became available to buy in Ireland and on the HSE’s Long-Term Illness Scheme in October 2022.

However, there are qualifying criteria for HSE funding approval. See more about the eligibility criteria here. These guidelines are being updated at the moment, though.

The biggest difference between the G7 and the G6 is that the warmup time for the sensor to be active is 30 minutes, and it doesn’t require a separate transmitter, which makes it similar to the Freestyle Libre. It does not require calibration, and the sensor life is 10 days.

Sensor lasts 10 days and has a 12-hour grace period.
Sensor warm-up: 30 minutes
Transmitter is contained within the sensor and is replaced at the same time as the sensor.
Calibration: Does not require finger stick calibration but has the capacity to be calibrated.
High and Low alarms: Yes
Can be used without an insulin pump.
Insulin Pump Compatibility: Yes, with Tandem TSlim (currently only in the US)
Smart Pen Compatibility: Yes, with the Novo Nordisk NovoPen 6 & NovoPen Echo Plus smart insulin pens that automatically record insulin dosing information about each injection. More information on this can be found here.
Data share with Family and Friends: Yes
Learn more about the G7 or contact Dexcom for online purchasing here.

Dexcom G6

The Dexcom G6 became available to buy in Ireland and on the HSE’s Long-Term Illness Scheme in October 2019. However, there are qualifying criteria for HSE funding approval, which you can see more information about on this webpage. These guidelines are being updated at the moment, though.

The G6 was the first CGM that didn’t require fingerstick calibration, which was a huge step forward in this technology. It was also the first to connect to smartphones. The transmitter for this product is a separate component and does require replacement every three months.

Sensor Lasts: 10 days.
Sensor warm-up: 2 hours
Transmitter lasts 90 days before replacement. If using a HSE-funded G6, a transmitter supply is ordered annually and you may need to remind your diabetes team to re-submit your transmitter funding renewal at the end of the year.
Calibration: No, Does not require finger stick calibration but has the capacity to be calibrated.
High and Low alarms: Yes
Can be used without an insulin pump.
Insulin Pump Compatibility: Yes, with Tandem TSlim, YpsoPump and Omnipod in the UK.
Smart Pen Compatibility: Yes, with the Novo Nordisk NovoPen 6 & NovoPen Echo Plus smart insulin pens that automatically record insulin dosing information about each injection. More information on this can be found here.
Data share with Family and Friends: Yes
Learn more about the G6 or contact Dexcom for online purchasing here.

Freestyle Libre 1

Flash Glucose Monitor from Abbott

The Freestyle Libre became available to buy in Ireland in October 2016 and available on the HSE’s Long-Term Illness Scheme in April 2018 for ages 4-21 years. The age restriction of 21 years was removed on the 1st December 2023.

The other eligibility criteria outside of age still remain and can be viewed here, however, these guidelines are in the process of being updated.

The Libre 1 does not have alarms when glucose levels are low or high and must be “scanned” with a reader or smartphone to access glucose data.

Abbott offers a free trial before purchasing the Freestyle Libre from their website if you are unsure about committing to a purchase or seeking HSE funding.

Sensor Lasts: 14 days.
Sensor warm-up: 1 hour
Transmitter is contained within the sensor and is replaced at the same time as the sensor.
Does not require finger stick calibration.
High and Low alarms: No
Insulin Pump Compatibility: No, not compatible with any insulin pumps
Smart Insulin Pens Compatible: Yes, with the Novo Nordisk NovoPen 6 & NovoPen Echo Plus smart insulin pens that automatically record insulin dosing information about each injection. More details here.
Data share with Family and Friends: Yes

Learn more about or contact Abbott for online purchasing Freestyle Libre here.

NOTE: Freestyle Libre 2 is available to purchase in Ireland now. However, it is not yet available through the HSE. Libre 2 removes the need to scan the sensor and sends glucose information straight to your phone every minute. Find out more about Libre 2 here.

Freestyle Libre 2

from Abbott

The Freestyle Libre2 became available to buy in Ireland and available on the HSE’s Long-Term Illness Scheme in December 2023. The age restriction of 21 years was also removed on the 1st December 2023.

The other eligibility criteria outside of age still remain and can be viewed here, however, these guidelines are in the process of being updated.

The biggest difference between Libre 1 and 2 is that the need to scan for glucose information is removed, and it has optional high and low glucose alarms.

Abbott offers a free trial before purchasing the Freestyle Libre from their website if you are unsure about committing to a purchase or seeking HSE funding.

Sensor Lasts: 14 days.
Sensor warm-up: 1 hour
Transmitter is contained within the sensor and is replaced at the same time as the sensor.
Does not require finger stick calibration.
High and Low alarms: yes
Can be used without an insulin pump.
Insulin Pump Compatibility: No, Not compatible with any insulin pumps.
Smart Insulin Pens Compatible: Yes, with the Novo Nordisk NovoPen 6 & NovoPen Echo Plus smart insulin pens that automatically record insulin dosing information about each injection. More details here.
Data share with Family and Friends: Yes

Learn more about or contact Abbott for online purchasing Freestyle Libre 2 here.

GlucoRx Aidex

From Windzor Pharma

GlucoRx Aidex became available to buy in Ireland and available on the HSE’s Long-Term Illness Scheme in April 2022. There were some issues with access that have been resolved in December 2023.

Gluco Rx Aidex CGM is a 14-day sensor with a transmitter that lasts four years. The sensor warm-up time is one hour. There are no calibrations required. It works with the GlucoRx AidexTM app on Apple phones, is integrated with the Apple Watch, and is also available on Android phones 5.0 and up.

Sensor Lasts: 14 days.
Sensor warm-up: 1 hour
A separate Transmitter is required and lasts 4 years.
Calibration required: No, Does not require finger stick calibration.
High and Low alarms: Yes
Can be used without an insulin pump.
Insulin Pump Compatibility: No, Not compatible with any insulin pumps.
Smart Insulin Pens Compatible: No
Data share with Family and Friends: Yes

Learn more or contact Windzor Pharma about GlucoRx Aidex online purchasing here.

Medtronic Guardian Connect with Guardian 4 sensors

The Medtronic Guardian Connect CGM is not widely used without the accompanying insulin pump but has been available as a stand-alone CGM to buy in Ireland and on the Long-Term Illness Scheme since October 2016.

See more about the eligibility criteria here.

This CGM transmits information wirelessly to the Guardian Connect app on a compatible smart device. The sensors last 7 days, and the transmitter is rechargeable, which is important to know if you are self-funding. However, it is recommended that the transmitter be replaced annually.

Sensor Lasts: 7 days.
Sensor warm-up: 2 hours
Transmitter lasts one year before replacement. If using an HSE-funded transmitter, you may need to remind your diabetes team to re-submit your transmitter funding renewal.
Calibration required: No, Does not require finger stick calibration but has the capacity to be calibrated.
High and Low alarms: Yes
Can be used without an insulin pump.
Insulin Pump Compatibility: Yes, Compatible with Medtronic pumps only.
Smart Pen compatibility: Yes, compatible with the Medtronic InPen™ Smart** Insulin Pen System.
Data share with Family and Friends: Yes

Contact Medtronic for more information about the Medtronic Guardian Connect here.

Coming soon:

Medtronic's Simplera CGM was approved in Europe in October 2023, and as companies can apply to update their products to newer versions, it is hoped that this will be available mid-late 2024.

It is also hoped that Freestyle Libre 3, which is pump compatible, is available in the UK already but not available in Ireland yet. Similar to the Simplera, it is hoped that Libre3 will be launched in Ireland in December 2024.