Real-World Data Show Clinical Benefits of FreeStyle Libre System in Diabetes

New real-world data reinforce the ability of the FreeStyle Libre system (Abbott), a sensor-based glucose monitoring technology system, to provide significant clinical benefits for patients with diabetes.

The research, which was presented at the 13^th Advanced Technologies & Treatment for Diabetes (ATTD) in Madrid, showed that users of the system experienced significant decreases of HbA1c, increased time in glucose range, and reduction in diabetes complications.

According to the abstracts, patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes in Germany demonstrated a sustained reduction in HbA1c over 12 months following use of the technology. Patients with type 1 diabetes using the FreeStyle Libre system with a baseline of HbA1c greater than 7.5% showed an average reduction of 1.4% and patients with type 2 diabetes showed an average reduction of 1.2%.

Related: Educating Patients on the Latest Diabetes Technology

Additionally, data from Sweden’s National Diabetes Register indicated that patients with diabetes significantly reduced their Hba1c when they used the system for 3 to 9 months. First-time users had a reduction of HbA1c of 0.44% in type 1 and 0.67% in type 2, according to the findings.

In an expanded analysis of real-world data from Canada, a higher frequency of scanning is associated with increased time in target glucose range (hours per day spent in between 70-180 mg/dL) and decreased hypoglycemia. The results showed that users who scanned at the lowest frequency (3.3 scans per day) spent 54.6% time in range, and users with the highest scanning frequency (29.3 scans per day) spent 66.7% time in range.

Moreover, a US study evaluating continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use found an association with a reduction in acute diabetes complications, even with prior low test strip use. The data showed that more than 12,000 patients using a CGM for the first time, including the FreeStyle Libre system, experienced a significant reduction in acute diabetes complications. This was observed even in patients with a history of self-monitoring of blood glucose using less than 4 test strips per day. Additionally, patients with type 1 diabetes experienced a significant reduction in acute diabetes complications of 44% after CGM usage and patients with type 2 diabetes showed a reduction of 51%.

Abbott also recently announced its partnership with Insulet Corporation to create a smart and accurate integrated technology that automatically adjusts insulin delivery based on personalized glucose data. The technology, which the user can control through a smartphone app, will consist of the tubeless delivery Omnipod system and Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre sensor. The integrated platform is expected to be the first combined system with a fully disposable wearable senor and pump, according to Abbott.

Read More: Pharmacists Play An Essential Role In A Diabetes Care Team

References:

1. New Real-World Data Show That Abbott’s Freestyle Libre System Delivers Positive Health Outcomes For People With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes [news release]. Abbott’s website. https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2020-02-20-New-Real-World-Data-Show-that-Abbotts-FreeStyle-Libre-System-Delivers-Positive-Health-Outcomes-for-People-with-Type-1-and-Type-2-Diabetes. Accessed February 20, 2020.

2. Abbott and Insulet Partner to Integrate Next-Generation Glucose Sensing and Automated Insulin Delivery Technologies For Seamless Diabetes Care [news release]. Abbott’s website. https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2020-02-19-Abbott-and-Insulet-Partner-to-Integrate-Next-Generation-Glucose-Sensing-and-Automated-Insulin-Delivery-Technologies-for-Seamless-Diabetes-Care. Accessed February 20, 2020.