Abbott
(NYSE:ABT) touted results today from real-world use data for its FreeStyle Libre blood glucose monitoring system. The data showed that people using its FreeStyle Libre system to monitor their glucose levels spend less time in hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia and have improved average glucose levels.
More than 50,000 diabetes patients using the FreeStyle Libre system checked their glucose levels 16 times a day, on average, according to the data.
The company’s FreeStyle Libre system uses a small sensor worn on the back of the upper arm to measure glucose every minute in interstitial fluid through a filament inserted under the skin. Abbott said its system can produce a glucose reading painlessly in less than 1 second by scanning a reader over the sensor.
“There is now substantial evidence from both real-world usage and clinical studies that reaffirms the powerful impact of FreeStyle Libre,” Jared Watkin, Abbott senior VP of diabetes care, said in prepared remarks. “FreeStyle Libre is changing how diabetes has been managed for decades, with one simple swipe. Most importantly, we’re doing that by empowering patients with the information that they need to take action themselves, helping people living with diabetes live fuller, healthier lives.”
The data was generated from more than 50,000 FreeStyle Libre users across Europe. Researchers found that as monitoring increased, the average glucose level decreased and patients experienced a reduction in both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.
“My experience with FreeStyle Libre through daily clinical practice and research studies has been very positive,” Dr. Ramzi Ajjan, of the University of Leeds, said. “Patients report that the system helped them gain a better understanding of their glycemia 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 glycemia control.”
