In February, CIM travelled to Madrid, Spain to take part in the 2020 Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) conference. We took in as much as we could and shared through both Instagram and Twitter in real time, but, of course, there was way more that we wanted to pass on. Today, we’re taking the time to share key learnings from presentations about Abbott diabetes tech at the conference. You can also read about updates from Dexcom, Medtronic, Tandem, and Omnipod.
Disclaimer: Please check out CIM’s Partners Page to learn more about the companies we work with. This post was not paid for and does not represent sponsored content, but it’s important to recognize that we may be biased based on the fact that some companies highlighted below support CIM in different ways. We still thought this info was important for you to know about.
Summary:
- Abbott announces partnership with Insulet and the Omnipod Horizon system
- Overview of the FreeStyle Libre 2 system
- Libre, diabetes & pregnancy
- Scanning frequency & Time in Range (TIR) update
It’s always exciting to be at a diabetes conference when an exciting or new partnership has been announced. We were excited to hear about one such partnership at ATTD 2020 when Abbott announced that they are partnering with Insulet to work on their next generation insulin pump, the Omnipod Horizon system. The system will operate using Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 2 system, currently available in some parts of Europe. Some interesting elements that this partnership will bring to the market include a system that is fully purchasable at the pharmacy, as well as both the sensor and pod being fully disposable, with no non-disposable pieces as part of the puzzle (like infusion sets or transmitters.) The partnership also demonstrates a movement towards more interoperable devices, helping to allow the diabetes community to make choices that best fit their lifestyles.
“Controlled through an app on a user’s personal smartphone device – a unique feature that will be offered with the Omnipod Horizon System – the integrated platform will consist of the trusted tubeless insulin delivery Pod and Abbott’s next-generation FreeStyle Libre sensor. Through a simple, intuitive design, glucose data from the sensor will be sent directly to the Pod that is embedded with an algorithm to automatically adjust insulin delivery – without the need for an additional device, connection or tubing. This integrated system will be designed to always remain in automated insulin delivery mode and can be controlled through an app on a user’s personal smartphone to manually take a dose of fast-acting insulin, or bolus, before meals for optimal performance. Additionally, the integrated platform is expected to be the first combined system with a fully disposable wearable sensor and pump.”
We also got a sneak peak at Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 2. The system is currently available in some European countries. At ATTD we had the chance to look at the system and find out what might be ahead for Canada and the US. The system uses a new (although totally identical looking) Libre sensor that allows for blue-tooth connectivity. It’s unique new feature will allow alerts to be pushed to your receiver (cell phone compatible) whenever BGs hit your low or high marks. The alert will trigger you to swipe, at which time your BG will be shown on your receiver/reader.
An interesting note learned at ATTD – Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre system is already approved in Europe for use by women who are pregnant. In Canada and the US, no continuous glucose monitoring or flash glucose system is currently approved for use in pregnancy. We’re hoping for more research to hit the ground soon.
Not surprisingly, a study conducted by the University of Leeds found that the more often a person scans their FreeStyle Libre, the more time they spend in range. This may seem obvious, but the study speaks to the impact that scanning and consciously reacting to blood glucose readings in real time has on making real-time and immediate adjustments to maintain time in range. It seems that the action of scanning and, perhaps, the need to do so for information results in more actions being taken to manage BGs.
Perhaps also not surprisingly, study results presented at ATTD showed that first time T1D users of the FreeStyle Libre system in Sweden had a reduction of A1C of .44% after using the system for 3-9 months. In Germany, that number was quite some higher – after 12 months of use of the FreeStyle Libre system, people with Type 1 diabetes showed a reduction in A1C of 1.4% (for those whose A1C started out at 7.5% or greater.)
To learn more about what Omnipod has on the go and to stay updated, visit their websites:
Canada: https://www.freestyle.abbott/ca/en/index.html
USA: https://www.freestylelibre.us/
