Flash Glucose Monitoring Improves blood sugar control in diabetes, Finds Study

In 2014, the first version of the FreeStyle Libre® Flash Glucose Monitoring System system was introduced in the Netherlands. And from December 2019, the FLASH is reimbursed for patients with DM using MDI or CSII. With increasing possibilities to use FLASH, there is a clear need for information on the effects of its use under real-life circumstances by larger groups of patients with DM. Therefore, Dr Peter R. van Dijk and his team conducted a study to evaluate the association between flash glucose monitoring (FLASH) frequency and glycemic parameters during real-life circumstances in the Netherlands.

In this Netherlands population study, researchers obtained glucose readings, de-identified them and uploaded them to a dedicated database when FLASH reading devices were connected to the internet. The researchers analyzed a total of 16,331 analyzable readers (163,762 sensors) between September 2014 and March 2020. They further determined the scan rate per reader and sorted it into 20 equally sized rank-ordered groups (n=817 each) ranging on average between 3.7 to 40 times per day.

Key findings of the study were:

• Upon analysis, the researchers found that those with an average of 3.7 scans/day had an eHbA1c of 8.6% and those with an average of 40 scans/day an eHbA1c of 6.9%.
• They noted that increasing scan rates were associated with more time in the target range (3.9-10 mmol/L), less time in hyperglycemia (>10 mmol/L), and a lower standard deviation of glucose.
• They observed an eHbA1c of 7.0% (53 mmol/mol) translated in approximately 65% time in the target range, 30% time in hyperglycemia and 5% time in hypoglycemia (<3.9 mmol/L).

The authors concluded, "These outcomes among Dutch FLASH users suggest that with higher scan rate glycemic control improves."

For further information:

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2021.108897