Empowering Patients with Actionable Information
According to a published report in Patient Preference and
Adherence[5] people test with traditional self-monitoring
methods (pricking a finger with a lancet to get a blood sample)
less than three times per day, which falls short of U.S.[2] and
European[3] guidelines that recommend four to eight self-tests per
day. People with diabetes cite the biggest obstacle to more
frequent monitoring is the pain and hassle of routine
fingersticks[5].
But when people with diabetes don't have a clear picture of
their glucose levels from regular monitoring, complications such as
hypoglycemia can become life-threatening and require
hospitalization, which can lead to a significant increase in
healthcare costs.
Abbott's FreeStyle Libre system, which was introduced in
Europe in 2014, removes the need
for routine fingersticks[6],[7] — and the pain and hassles that
come along with them[8]. In addition, FreeStyle Libre system is
factory calibrated—meaning that it does not require a fingerstick
test for calibration (a test requiring a blood sample to reset a
system's accuracy) unlike other continuous glucose monitoring
systems, which require two or more fingersticks per day to remain
accurate.
"My experience with FreeStyle Libre through daily clinical
practice and research studies has been very positive," says
Ramzi Ajjan, M.D., University of
Leeds, U.K. "Patients report that
the system helped them gain a better understanding of their
glycaemia by enabling multiple daily glucose checks discreetly and
conveniently. The system's painless nature of glucose testing are
praised by patients with one commenting to me, 'you saved my
fingers.' The real-world data further confirms that patients are
checking glucose more frequently, up to 16 times per day on
average, which is cumbersome to maintain with the conventional
fingerstick method. With comprehensive glucose data, patients
now have access to more meaningful information key for optimizing
their glycaemia control."
Real-World Usage Supports Randomized Controlled Data of
FreeStyle Libre
The new real-world data presented at ATTD
further support the conclusions of the randomized controlled
clinical studies conducted by Abbott with the FreeStyle Libre
system including the IMPACT study[9] published in The Lancet
in September 2016.
Key findings of the IMPACT trial included (FreeStyle Libre users
versus traditional SMBG):
- Glucose monitoring increased to an average of 15 scans per
day
- 38 percent reduction in time spent in hypoglycemia (<70
mg/dl)
- 50 percent reduction in serious hypoglycemia (<55
mg/dl)
- 40 percent reduction in time spent in nocturnal hypoglycemia at
night (11 p.m. to 6 a.m.)
- No increase in HbA1c at six months
In 2014, Abbott launched the FreeStyle Libre system in several
countries in Europe. Currently,
FreeStyle Libre system is available in more than 30 countries
around the globe and is being used by more than 250,000 people
living with diabetes. In the U.S., the FreeStyle Libre system is
currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration[10].
About the Data
De-identified data was collected over a
period of 18 months when FreeStyle Libre readers were connected to
the PC-based software with an active internet connection. All
information was aggregated. No personal data was utilized or
shared.
About Abbott′s FreeStyle Libre System
Abbott′s
FreeStyle Libre system consists of a small, round
sensor—approximately the size of two stacked U.S. quarters—worn on
the back of the upper arm for up to 14 days, which measures glucose
every minute in interstitial fluid through a small (5mm long, 0.4mm
wide) filament that is inserted just under the skin and held in
place with a small adhesive pad. A reader is scanned over the
sensor to get a glucose result painlessly[4] in less than one
second. Each scan displays a real-time glucose result, a historical
trend and the direction the glucose is heading.
The FreeStyle Libre system generates an Ambulatory Glucose
Profile (AGP) that provides a visual snapshot of glucose levels,
trends and patterns over time.
About Abbott:
At Abbott, we're committed to helping
people live their best possible life through the power of health.
For more than 125 years, we've brought new products and
technologies to the world -- in nutrition, diagnostics, medical
devices and branded generic pharmaceuticals -- that create more
possibilities for more people at all stages of life. Today, 94,000
of us are working to help people live not just longer, but better,
in the more than 150 countries we serve.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @FreeStyleDiabet,
@AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal.
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[1] Data on file.
Dunn T, Xu Y, Hayter G; Evidence of a Strong Association
Between Frequency of Flash Glucose Monitoring and Glucose Control
Measures During Real-World Usage
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[2] American Diabetes
Association Diabetes Care 2017 Jan; 40(Supplement 1): S48-S56.
https://doi.org/10.2337/dc17-S009;
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/40/Supplement_1/S48
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[3] Schnell O, Alwai
H, Battelino T, et al. Consensus statement on self-monitoring of
blood glucose in diabetes. A European perspective. Diabetes,
Stoffwechsel und Herz, Band 18, 4/2009:3-7
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[4] Data on file.
Based on a user study, 100% of patients agree that there is no pain
when they check their glucose readings by scanning the FreeStyle
Libre sensor.
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[5] Ong,
W.M.; Chua, S.S.; Ng, C.J. (2014) Barriers
and facilitators to self-monitoring of blood glucose in people with
type 2 diabetes using insulin: a qualitative
study. Patient Preference and Adherence, 8. pp.
237-246.
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[6] A finger prick
test using a blood glucose meter is required during times of
rapidly changing glucose levels when interstitial fluid glucose
levels may not accurately reflect blood glucose levels or if
hypoglycaemia or impending hypoglycaemia is reported by the system
or when symptoms do not match the system readings.
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[7] Bailey, Bode,
Christiansen, Klaff, and Alva, (2015). The Performance and
Usability of a Factory-Calibrated Flash Glucose Monitoring System
Diabetes Tech Thearputics 17(11), 787-793.DOI:
10.1089/dia.2014.0378
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[8] Wagner J,
Malachoff C, Abbott G. Invasiveness as a barrier to self-monitoring
of blood glucose in diabetes. Diabetes Technolo Ther. 2005;
7(4):612-619.
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[9] Bolinder J,
Antuna R, Geelhoed-Duijvestijn P, Kroger J, Weitgasser R. Novel
glucose-sensing technology and hypoglycaemia in type 1 diabetes: a
multicentre, non-masked, randomised controlled trial [published
online September 12, 2016]. Lancet. 2016
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[10] Pending FDA
approval. Not available for sale in the United States
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To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/real-world-data-from-abbotts-freestyle-libre-show-association-between-higher-frequency-of-glucose-monitoring-and-improved-glucose-control-for-people-with-diabetes-300407487.html
SOURCE Abbott