Abbott has announced findings from its REFLECT studies, which reveal that the use of FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology is linked to a significant reduction in hospitalizations for heart complications among individuals with diabetes. The studies indicate that this CGM technology can reduce cardiovascular complication severity in people with Type 1 diabetes, irrespective of their history with low blood sugar events or heart disease-related hospitalizations.
David Nathanson, MD, PhD, from Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden, commented on the results: "These results are remarkable, as we see dual benefits from CGM technology in managing diabetes and its associated cardiovascular complications." He emphasized how CGMs provide real-time feedback on glucose levels, empowering patients to manage their health proactively.
The data also highlighted a reduction in heart-related hospitalizations for adults with Type 2 diabetes using Libre technology while on insulin. Mahmood Kazemi, M.D., chief medical officer for Abbott's diabetes care business, remarked on the findings: "These data are transformative and show just how valuable FreeStyle Libre technology is for managing both diabetes and heart health."
Further insights from the research revealed an 80% reduction in hospitalization risk for cardiovascular disease among Type 1 diabetic individuals without prior cardiovascular disease history using Libre technology. For those with previous cardiovascular conditions, there was a 49% decrease.
Ramzi Ajjan, M.D., professor at University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust noted the importance of these findings: "I am very excited to see data that show significant reduction in cardiovascular disease-related hospital admissions."
The REFLECT studies utilized data from the Swedish National Diabetes Register and assessed various impacts of intermittently scanned CGM versus traditional blood glucose monitoring.
Abbott's FreeStyle Libre system is used by over seven million people across more than 60 countries. It provides real-time glucose level readings to help users understand how different factors affect their glucose levels.
Abbott continues to innovate within healthcare, serving people globally with a range of products spanning diagnostics to medical devices.