Sam Brusco, Associate Editor03.21.24
The ultimate goal for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and insulin pump technologies is to ease the diabetes struggle and manage the burdensome, chronic disease. CGM and insulin delivery technology is becoming smaller, smarter, and integrated to ease the burden of managing diabetes.
To get more information and insights about the technologies at the forefront of diabetes management, MPO recently spoke to a spokesperson from Abbott Laboratories.
For people with diabetes, high ketone levels can be dangerous, or even fatal. High ketone levels are a result of dangerously low insulin levels, so the body begins accumulating ketones in the blood to compensate. The risk of this is most high in people who use meal-time insulin.
Today, if people with diabetes need to test their ketones, they can prick their finger or take a urine test. Most people don’t do this—mainly because they weren’t aware they needed to, but also because they don’t regularly keep these tests at home. The development of a dual glucose and ketone sensor will give people better peace of mind knowing what exactly is happening inside their body.
A FreeStyle CGM gives people and their healthcare providers critical information to make informed decisions about their health goals. We believe this biowearable has the power to move society away from the mentality of only treating someone after their disease progresses to a society that can be much more proactive and understanding that this small, yet mighty health tech tool should be used at the onset of diagnosis and lead to creation of positive, lasting behavior changes that improve one’s health outcomes.
To get more information and insights about the technologies at the forefront of diabetes management, MPO recently spoke to a spokesperson from Abbott Laboratories.
Sam Brusco: How does the recently launched integration of FreeStyle Libre Plus 2 CGM with the t:slim X2 insulin pump fulfill unmet clinical needs?
Abbott: FreeStyle Libre users in the U.S. now have the option to experience an automated insulin delivery (AID) system. The integration helps predict and prevent high and low blood sugar, while automatically adjusting insulin delivery and lessening the burden of care management. FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus is the first and only 15-day CGM sensor available in the U.S. today—and because users only need two sensors a month, it saves them time and money.Brusco: How did the acquisition of Bigfoot Biomed help strengthen Abbott’s offerings for diabetes patients?
Abbott: Abbott’s acquisition of Bigfoot Biomedical brings together two important areas of diabetes management: continuous glucose monitoring and smart pen insulin dosing support. By combining our companies, we can further develop connected solutions to help people living with diabetes by making diabetes management even more personal and precise.Brusco: Which continued unmet clinical needs in diabetes management does Abbott plan to pursue in the near future?
Abbott: Abbott is currently developing a sensor that will measure both glucose and ketone levels at the same time.For people with diabetes, high ketone levels can be dangerous, or even fatal. High ketone levels are a result of dangerously low insulin levels, so the body begins accumulating ketones in the blood to compensate. The risk of this is most high in people who use meal-time insulin.
Today, if people with diabetes need to test their ketones, they can prick their finger or take a urine test. Most people don’t do this—mainly because they weren’t aware they needed to, but also because they don’t regularly keep these tests at home. The development of a dual glucose and ketone sensor will give people better peace of mind knowing what exactly is happening inside their body.
Brusco: What do you think will be the future (~5 years) for diabetes management technologies in general?
Abbott: Our FreeStyle Libre portfolio is the most widely used and studied biowearable in the world because it is simple to use and more affordable than our competitors. With 50-plus billion of hours of glucose monitoring data, Abbott has been the leader in diabetes tech in showing its benefits, which has led to expanded reimbursement and coverage. While CGMs are the standard of care for people living with diabetes who use meal-time insulin, Abbott sees a world where CGMs are the standard of care for all people living with diabetes, regardless of their use of insulin or not.A FreeStyle CGM gives people and their healthcare providers critical information to make informed decisions about their health goals. We believe this biowearable has the power to move society away from the mentality of only treating someone after their disease progresses to a society that can be much more proactive and understanding that this small, yet mighty health tech tool should be used at the onset of diagnosis and lead to creation of positive, lasting behavior changes that improve one’s health outcomes.