2018-05-30T09:01:00
(BPT) – If you are one of the 30 million Americans with diabetes, you know all too well that the painful routine of checking blood sugar levels has remained unchanged for decades. Prick your finger, drop blood on a test strip, insert into a reader and wait. Repeat up to eight times per day.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how your body processes blood sugar. And according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the U.S. is one of the top three countries in the world with the highest diabetes prevalence.
“Every year, more than one million people are diagnosed with diabetes and have to learn how to best manage their disease, including adjusting their diet, exercising and closely monitoring their glucose levels,” said Cher Pastore, MS, RDN, Certified Diabetes Educator, founder and owner of CherNutrition in New York City. “With that comes the dreaded fingerstick, an important but painful and invasive part of managing diabetes that many patients struggle with for most of their lives. Until now, the fingerstick has been the only way to maintain a good handle on one’s glucose levels and help inform treatment decisions.”
But managing your glucose levels just got easier. Last fall, the FDA approved a revolutionary diabetes wearable technology that is unlike any other glucose monitoring technology on the market and is transforming the way people manage their diabetes. The FreeStyle Libre system from Abbott is a personal continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that eliminates the need for fingerstick calibration, allowing for more flexibility when managing your diabetes. It also removes the burden of routine fingersticks – the one step that people with diabetes claim is the biggest reason they don’t test their glucose levels as often as they should.
With just a one second scan over a small sensor that is worn on the back of the upper arm for up to 10 days, the FreeStyle Libre system provides people with their current glucose level, historical trends and patterns of where their glucose has been and a directional arrow showing where their glucose level is going. The FreeStyle Libre system scans through clothing and avoids interference with acetaminophen, an active ingredient in common over-the-counter medications, which can falsely raise reported glucose levels in certain CGMs to appear as if they are at dangerously high levels. The FreeStyle Libre sensor also automatically measures glucose readings day and night and is accurate for insulin dosing.
“Patients have really been embracing the FreeStyle Libre as it takes away the burden of routine fingersticks, while at the same time helping them manage their diabetes,” said Pastore. “It’s easy to use and discreet, and represents a true innovation that empowers patients to make the best decisions about their health.”
The FreeStyle Libre system is available in major retail pharmacies. Visit www.freestylelibre.us/cgm-experience to learn more about how the FreeStyle Libre system is transforming diabetes management and how you can receive the system free of charge.
INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
The FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring system is a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device indicated for replacing blood glucose testing and detecting trends and tracking patterns aiding in the detection of episodes of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, facilitating both acute and long-term therapy adjustments in persons (age 18 and older) with diabetes. The system is intended for single patient use and requires a prescription.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Remove the sensor before MRI, CT scan, X-ray, or diathermy treatment.
WARNINGS/LIMITATIONS: Do not ignore symptoms that may be due to low or high blood glucose, hypoglycemic unawareness, or dehydration. Check sensor glucose readings with a blood glucose meter when Check Blood Glucose symbol appears, when symptoms do not match system readings, or when readings are suspected to be inaccurate. The FreeStyle Libre system does not have alarms unless the sensor is scanned, and the system contains small parts that may be dangerous if swallowed. The FreeStyle Libre system is not approved for pregnant women, persons on dialysis, or critically-ill population. Sensor placement is not approved for sites other than the back of the arm and standard precautions for transmission of blood borne pathogens should be taken. The built-in blood glucose meter is not for use on dehydrated, hypotensive, in shock, hyperglycemic-hyperosmolar state, with or without ketosis, neonates, critically-ill patients, or for diagnosis or screening of diabetes. Review all product information before use or contact Abbott Toll Free (855-632-8658) or visit www.freestylelibre.us for detailed indications for use and safety information.
