A Game Changer for Diabetics! FreeStyle Libre

FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System is a revolutionary glucose monitoring concept that provides greater data and convenience than blood glucose testing. Moreover, it is more affordable than CGM (Continous Glucose Monitors). Abbot FreeStyle Libre is a bloodless glucose meter that provides instant glucose readings by simply scanning a sensor instead of pricking your finger! This is great news for the Diabetes Community patiently waiting for these developments.

Non-Invasive Glucose Meter: How does it work?

Freestyle Libre features a tiny, flexible glucose sensor (0.2mm long) that is worn just under the skin and attached to a round, water-resistant on-body patch.

The sensor is the size of a one-dollar coin and it remains in place for 14 days. Additionally, it’s factory calibrated and it will begin reading glucose and relaying data one hour after putting it on the upper arm.

The device is approved for use except in three cases where the normal finger-stick is recommended; when glucose changes rapidly, when hypoglycemic, and when your symptoms don’t match the readings provided by the system.

Most people who participated in patient trials of the devices rated the application of the fiber sensor as painless or less painless compared to traditional CGM (continuous glucose monitor). Moreover, the insertion process is very simple and it does not require any training. The insertion process takes about 15 seconds and it can be done even with one hand.

Using the FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System

Take the touchscreen reader and hold it near (within an inch) the round sensor disc, and wait for the reader to beep. You will get your real-time glucose value in less than a second and you can also see your glucose trend arrow and a trend graph that shows the last 8 hours of data. You can also download reports from your reader device to your MAC or any other PC-compatible software.

Therefore, besides getting glucose readings as you would with the conventional blood glucose meters, you can also see whether your glucose levels have started going down, up, or are unstable.

Although the upper arm might seem like an annoying and very noticeable location, the round sensor is conveniently small and light, so you’ll soon forget that you’re even wearing it. The sensor comes with a strong adhesive in order to ensure that it stays intact on your skin for the entire 14-day period. Despite the activity you engage in, FreeStyle libre will not require any additional taping. However, Abbott is actively pursuing approval for various alternate wear locations that are more discreet (e.g., thigh, stomach).

How do you scan the sensor disc to obtain data?

Unlike continuous glucose monitors (CGM), the device must be scanned using the reader to obtain data (real-time value, trend, and graph,) because it does not continuously send real-time data to the touchscreen reader. The sensor stores 8 hours of data at a time with the values being taken every minute.

The FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System has an outstanding scanning process that takes an average of two seconds. You simply need to touch the button on the screen reader to turn it on and bring up the sensor menu.

Non Invasive Glocose Meter Freestyle Libre — Silicone Case for Freestyle Libre Monitor

From there, hold the reader an inch from the sensor to obtain the real-time glucose value, trend, and past 8 hours of glucose data. The data is displayed on a clear and simple line graph.

Scanning takes 1 to 2 seconds and works through several layers of regular clothing. This allows for excellent flexibility and discretion. On the other hand, you can tag scans such as exercise, insulin carbs, and customizable options right from the home screen.

Scanning the sensor patch is associated with a certain cool factor, psychological pleasure, and fun quality. Additionally, the scans are accompanied by an inspiring ‘ding’ sound that is followed by the immediate display of data on your reader.

This will help you beat and forget the hassles associated with traditional blood glucose tests. This is largely because there is no cost associated with additional glucose scans and there is no limit to the number of scans you can take.

When will the Freestyle Libre be available in the US?

FreeStyle Libre Flash (real-time) Glucose Monitoring System version is currently available in most European countries and in Australia where it was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) early this year (February 2016). However, it’s not clear when FreeStyle libre will launch in the United States. Since Abbot has not yet submitted the device to the FDA, it likely won’t be available until 2017 or even later. However, the FreeStyle Libre pro is hoping to get approval from the FDA anytime now – since it has been under review by the FDA since 2015.

Bookmark this site, to return for regular updates on the Bloodless Glucose Meter.

FreeStyle Libre Pro Now HAS FDA APPROVAL – IN THE US – READ MORE HERE!

FDA Approved – Abbott’s FreeStyle Pro Bloodless Glucose Meter

Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre Pro System Receives FDA Approval For Medical Practitioners To Use With Diabetes Patients.

On 28^th September 2016, Abbott announced that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) had approved the FreeStyle Libre Pro System, a bloodless glucose monitor for use by healthcare professionals on diabetes patients.

The system is designed to empower physicians to provide better management of diabetes. The system provides physicians with a clear visual snapshot of blood glucose data, commonly known as AGP (Ambulatory Glucose Profile). Besides giving a clear and simplified view of the blood glucose levels, healthcare providers can also see and analyze trends and patterns within those glucose levels.

This information has proven to be very valuable because it helps doctors make customized treatment plans for diabetes patients at a lower cost compared to other continuous glucose monitoring products available on the market today.

FreeStyle Libre Pro makes a massive transformation in the way healthcare providers assess diabetes patients especially when it comes to critical decisions around nutrition, medication, and insulin. This innovative technology provides a viable solution to the challenges that come with the need for dependable and complete blood glucose data. This data is vital for the doctor to help the patient achieve optimal health.

How does the FreeStyle Libre Pro System Work?

The FreeStyle Libre Pro system is applied to diabetes patients by healthcare practitioners in a hospital or clinic setting. The doctor applies a very small sensor on the back of the diabetes patient’s upper arm. The round water-resistant sensor is held firmly in place with an adhesive pad and remains on the patient’s arm for 14 days.

During this period, the device does not require any patient interaction or the need for patients to calibrate the sensor or draw blood via a fingerstick.

The sensor measures glucose continuously in interstitial fluid via a very small filament that is usually inserted just under the patient’s skin. This enables the sensor to record glucose in 15 minutes intervals capturing about 1,340 blood glucose results in the 14-day period.

The patient returns to the physician after 14 days where the physician will scan the sensor using a FreeStyle Libre Pro reader and download the glucose results stored in the patient’s sensor. The 14 days’ worth of blood glucose results can be scanned and downloaded in as little as 5 seconds.

Advantages of the FreeStyle Libre Pro System compared to other CGM systems

Provides reliable blood glucose data

Doctors receive 14 days’ worth of continuous blood glucose data that is based on the uninterrupted day-to-day routines of diabetes patients.

Convenient for patients and doctors

Since the FreeStyle Libre Pro does not require any fingerstick calibrations, there is no need for diabetes patients to be trained on calibration. Once the sensor has been applied, there is no need for patients to interact with the system in any way.

Reduces equipment cost and time

Besides costing less than other CGM products, with the FreeStyle Libre Pro system the physician only needs to buy one specific reader for several patients without the need to spend on extra transmitters, receivers, and recorders, or devote time to disinfecting or recharging other components.

The Ambulatory Glucose Profile report

The system provides physicians and their patients with an AGP (Ambulatory Glucose Profile) report. The report was developed by the International Diabetes center and it is represented in a user-friendly chart that provides physicians with a complete glycemic view of the patient’s blood glucose trend for the past 14 days.

The Ambulatory Glucose Profile Report helps identify when patients are out of the ideal blood glucose range and provides hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic patterns and trends. These useful insights facilitate meaningful discussions between patients and doctors.

This is groundbreaking technology primarily because professional CGM systems have been long considered an expensive and cumbersome technology, particularly for Type 1 diabetes patients.

The new FreeStyle Libre Pro technology is here to change this paradigm because it’s not only unique but also because it does not require fingerstick calibration, it’s more affordable, easier to use, and more accessible to diabetes patients.

Abbott has also submitted the FreeStyle Libre Pro system consumer version for review by the FDA. The consumer version of the system is a CGM system that measures blood glucose levels through a very small sensor on the back of the patient’s upper arm for 14 days.

This monitor does not require fingerstick calibration and patients can self-monitor their blood glucose levels by simply scanning the reader over the small sensor to get a reading as often as desired.