Abbott's Libre® Technology is First Continuous Glucose Monitor Associated with Reduced Hospitalizations for Heart Complications in People with Diabetes

Core Insights - Abbott's FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology significantly reduces the risk of hospitalization for heart complications in individuals with diabetes, marking a breakthrough in diabetes management [1][4][5]. Group 1: Study Findings - The REFLECT studies indicate that CGM technology is linked to an 80% reduction in cardiovascular disease-related hospitalizations for Type 1 diabetes patients without prior cardiovascular issues, and a 49% reduction for those with a history of cardiovascular disease [4][5]. - For Type 2 diabetes patients on insulin, similar reductions in heart-related hospitalizations were observed when using Libre technology [1][5]. - The studies utilized data from the Swedish National Diabetes Register, covering approximately 90% of diabetes patients in Sweden, and assessed various cardiovascular complications [6]. Group 2: Health Impact - Diabetes affects around 589 million people globally, with individuals having Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes being 2-4 times more likely to develop heart disease compared to non-diabetics [3][4]. - The findings suggest that the use of Libre technology could lead to lower healthcare costs due to reduced hospital admissions related to heart complications [3]. Group 3: Company Overview - Abbott has been a pioneer in diabetes care with its FreeStyle Libre technology, which is currently used by over 7 million people in more than 60 countries [7]. - The company aims to empower individuals with diabetes to manage their health proactively through real-time glucose monitoring [4][7].