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 The study, which was presented at the American Diabetes Association
meeting in San Francisco, assessed the medical records of 363 type 2
diabetics in France, Germany and Austria between three and six
months.
Dr. Helene Hanaire of the University Hospital Center of Toulouse,
France, one of the study authors, said having ready access to their
blood glucose readings helped diabetics become more engaged with
controlling their glucose levels.
Patients in the study, whose average age was 63, used multiple
insulin injections every day over a period of more than eight years.
An analysis of patient records found that patients who used Abbott's
FreeStyle Libre - a device worn on the body that monitors blood
sugar continuously through a sensor under the skin - helped patients
reduce hemoglobin A1c by nearly 1%.
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Hemoglobin A1c levels is a measure of a person's average blood sugar
for three months and indicates the risk for developing long-term
complications from diabetes.
Patients who used the device for at least three months saw their A1c
levels drop to an average of 8%, from the previous level of 8.9%.
However, this was still above the American Diabetes Association's
recommended target of 7%.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, and many
patients can keep their blood sugar within the recommended range
with oral medications and do not need insulin. However, those on
insulin require regular monitoring of blood sugar levels.
Abbott's FreeStyle Libre, which can be worn for up to 14 days,
reduces the need for the traditional fingerstick testing.
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