Abbott has announced new data from a real-world evidence study in Sweden showing that the use of the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM) is associated with significant reductions in HbA1c, as well as a lower rate of hospitalisation for people living with Type 2 diabetes.
Continuous glucose monitoring is widely recognised as standard of care technology for people living with Type 1 diabetes, and this comparative study of the Swedish National Diabetes Register provided further evidence that CGM technology can be effective in helping people with Type 2 diabetes better manage their condition.
According to the study, 2,876 people who were receiving multiple daily insulin injections saw a 0.34% reduction in HbA1c when using the FreeStyle Libre system compared to people using traditional blood glucose monitoring (BGM), and 2,292 people on basal-only insulin saw a 0.32% reduction in HbA1c when using the FreeStyle Libre system. The study also showed a significant 49% reduction in hospitalisations for severe hypoglycaemia for those on multiple daily insulin injection therapy compared to traditional blood glucose monitoring (BGM).
“The results of this real-world study add to the weight of evidence demonstrating the benefits of the FreeStyle Libre system in reducing HbA1c, serious diabetes-related events and hospitalisations among people with Type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. David Nathanson, associate professor at the Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Karolinska Institute in Sweden. “It is particularly encouraging that the HbA1c reductions were consistent across those who were receiving multiple daily injections and those on basal-only insulin, demonstrating its benefit in a wide variety of diabetes patients.”
The results reinforce similar findings from the Real World Evidence of FreeStyle Libre (RELIEF) study published in the Journal of Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics and presented at last year’s EASD meeting. The retrospective study of the French national health claims database showed the use of the FreeStyle Libre system significantly reduced the rate of hospitalisations due to acute diabetes events for people living with Type 2 diabetes on once-daily insulin therapy.
“The compelling body of evidence demonstrates what we already know – that FreeStyle Libre technology is making a significant difference for people living with diabetes. It empowers people with actionable insights so they can make informed decisions about food, medicine and behaviours that affect glucose levels,” said Neil Harris, general manager for Abbott’s diabetes care business in the UK and Ireland. “Recent decisions from health authorities in other countries to expand reimbursement of glucose sensors like the FreeStyle Libre system to people with Type 2 diabetes on basal-only insulin therapy are an important step forward. We are committed to broadening access to sensing technology for the millions of people with diabetes that could benefit from it.”
