Sam Brusco, Associate Editor03.06.24
Abbott reported new data from two real-world studies that evaluated people with Type 2 diabetes using GLP-1 medicines and FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology.
GLP-1 medicines are increasingly being prescribed for Type 2 diabetes patients because they offer glycemic benefit and facilitate weight loss. When blood sugar levels rise after eating, these drugs stimulate release of more insulin to help lower blood sugar levels. They also reduce appetite.
The real world studies showed:
FreeStyle Libre CGM systems use a sensor worn on the back of the upper arm for up to 15 days, paired with either a reader or compatible smartphone app to display glucose readings. The FreeStyle Libre 2 CGM system was recently integrated with Tandem Diabetes’ t:slim X2 automated insulin delivery (AID) system with Control-IQ technology.
"The data analyses confirm that people using GLP-1 medicines to manage their diabetes can achieve even better results when using it together with FreeStyle Libre technology," said Dr. Mahmood Kazemi, chief medical officer for Abbott's diabetes care business. "This type of complementary relationship is not uncommon in diabetes care treatment. Similar to pairing with insulin therapy, FreeStyle Libre technology is a beneficial companion to GLP-1 therapy, providing the real-time data that people with diabetes can use to make positive behavior changes and navigate their GLP-1 usage safely."
Learn more about FreeStyle Libre and other diabetes management technologies here!
GLP-1 medicines are increasingly being prescribed for Type 2 diabetes patients because they offer glycemic benefit and facilitate weight loss. When blood sugar levels rise after eating, these drugs stimulate release of more insulin to help lower blood sugar levels. They also reduce appetite.
The real world studies showed:
- People with Type 2 diabetes and an HbA1C ≥8% while using GLP-1 medicines saw improvement in HbA1C (-1.5%), six months after adding FreeStyle Libre technology to their treatment. (Results in the first study were irrespective of GLP-1 duration, GLP-1 type, or insulin therapy type.)
- People had a greater HbA1c reduction when using GLP-1 and FreeStyle Libre tech together (-2.4%), compared to using GLP-1 alone (-1.7%). (The second study analyzed data from a cohort of people on GLP-1 only and those on GLP-1 & FreeStyle Libre systems therapies.)
FreeStyle Libre CGM systems use a sensor worn on the back of the upper arm for up to 15 days, paired with either a reader or compatible smartphone app to display glucose readings. The FreeStyle Libre 2 CGM system was recently integrated with Tandem Diabetes’ t:slim X2 automated insulin delivery (AID) system with Control-IQ technology.
"The data analyses confirm that people using GLP-1 medicines to manage their diabetes can achieve even better results when using it together with FreeStyle Libre technology," said Dr. Mahmood Kazemi, chief medical officer for Abbott's diabetes care business. "This type of complementary relationship is not uncommon in diabetes care treatment. Similar to pairing with insulin therapy, FreeStyle Libre technology is a beneficial companion to GLP-1 therapy, providing the real-time data that people with diabetes can use to make positive behavior changes and navigate their GLP-1 usage safely."
Learn more about FreeStyle Libre and other diabetes management technologies here!