Abbott announces new data from studies with GLP-1 medicines and Freestyle Libre

Abbott announced new data from two real-world studies1, 2 showing people with Type 2 diabetes using GLP-1 medicines and FreeStyle Libre technology together had greater improvement in their HbA1c when compared to those treated with GLP-1 medicines only. HbA1c is a measurement of a person’s average blood glucose level over three months. These findings were presented at the 17th International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes, or ATTD, held in Florence, Italy, on March 6. GLP-1 medicines – also known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) – are increasingly being prescribed for people with Type 2 diabetes as they provide glycemic benefit and support weight loss. When blood sugar levels start to rise after someone eats, these drugs stimulate the body to release more insulin, which helps to lower blood sugar levels. They also reduce appetite leading to less food intake and weight loss. Studies show that reaching and maintaining a healthy body weight can make diabetes more manageable. The two real-world studies presented at ATTD found people with Type 2 diabetes and an HbA1C greater than or equal to 8% while using GLP-1 medicines saw a significant improvement in their HbA1C, six months after adding FreeStyle Libre technology to their treatment.