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By Saumya Joseph
(Reuters) – Insulin-dependent patients with type 2 diabetes experienced a significant drop in their blood glucose levels after using Abbott Laboratories Inc.'s continuous blood glucose monitoring system for three months compared to those who use Routine tests at the fingertips, researchers said Saturday.
The study, presented at the meeting of the American Diabetes Association in San Francisco, badessed the medical records of 363 type 2 diabetics in France, Germany, and Austria between three and six months.
Dr. Helene Hanaire of the University Hospital Center in Toulouse, France, said having easy access to reading their blood glucose levels has allowed diabetics to be more involved in controlling their blood glucose levels.
Patients in the study, whose average age was 63 years, used multiple insulin injections daily for more than eight years.
An badysis of patient records revealed that patients who used Abbott's FreeStyle Free – a device worn on the body that monitored blood glucose continuously through a sensor located under the skin – helped patients reduce the risk of cancer. Hemoglobin A1c by almost 1%.
The hemoglobin A1c levels measure a person's average blood glucose for three months and indicate the risk of developing long-term complications of diabetes.
Patients who used the device for at least three months saw their A1c levels fall to an average of 8%, compared to the previous level of 8.9%. However, this goal was still above the 7% goal recommended by the American Diabetes Association.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and many patients can maintain their blood glucose levels in the recommended range with oral medications and do not require insulin. However, people on insulin require regular monitoring of blood glucose.
Abbott's FreeStyle Libre, which can be worn for up to 14 days, reduces the need for traditional finger testing.
(Report of Saumya Sibi Joseph in Bengaluru, edited by James Emmanuel)
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