Abbott announced results from the FreeDM2 randomized controlled trial (RCT) showing that people using FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology had better glucose outcomes than those using traditional fingersticks. Improvements were achieved through participant-led self-management, guided by real-time CGM insights. About 63 million people worldwide rely on insulin to manage Type 2 diabetes, but real-world studies show only 18%?30% of those using basal insulin are reaching their HbA1c goals.
This gap contributes to an estimated $217 billion in annual diabetes healthcare costs, indicating millions of people still need support to reach healthy glucose ranges. The FreeDM2 randomized controlled trial was designed to determine whether real-time continuous glucose monitoring can help people using basal insulin improve their glucose management. Conducted across 24 clinical sites in the U.K. and involving 303 participants, the study compared the effectiveness of CGM with traditional self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in people with Type 2 diabetes using basal insulin.
At four months, participants using an Abbott FreeStyle Libre system for continuous glucose monitoring had a significantly greater reduction in HbA1c (0.6%; p<0.001) than the group using traditional finger sticks. They also spent about 2.5 more hours a day (10.4% increase) in a healthy glucose range (70?180 mg/dL). Participants were on basal insulin with either an SGLT2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist, indicating meaningful benefit even among people already on advanced glucose-lowering therapies.
A separate interventional study from Italy, also being presented at ATTD, followed 88 adults with Type 2 diabetes using basal insulin in everyday clinical practice with an Abbott FreeStyle Libre system. After 3 months, participants had better average glucose levels, more time in a healthy glucose range, and improved quality of life. Currently, across Europe and many other regions, CGM reimbursement often focuses on people using multiple daily insulin injections, leaving many on basal insulin without coverage.
The evidence from FreeDM2 and Italian studies demonstrates that people with Type 2 diabetes on basal insulin therapy can achieve clinically meaningful improvements through continuous glucose monitoring technology, strengthening the case for broader reimbursement of CGM for this population. Abbott continues to pioneer groundbreaking technology to support people living with diabetes. The company revolutionized diabetes care more than 10 years ago with its world-leading Libre continuous glucose monitoring portfolio, which today is used by approximately 8 million people across more than 60 countries.
People use Libre technology to see their glucose numbers in real-time, providing insights into how food, activity, or insulin impacts their glucose to help them make progress on their health goals. There is full or partial reimbursement for Libre systems in more than 40 countries.
