Abbott launches wearable glucose sensor in Europe

ABBOTT PARK, Ill. — Abbott on Wednesday announced that it has received CE Mark (Conformite Europeenne) for its FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System, a revolutionary new glucose sensing technology for people with diabetes. The system eliminates the need for routine finger pricks, reading glucose levels through a sensor that can be worn on the back of the upper arm for up to 14 days. In addition, no finger prick calibration is needed, a key differentiator from current continuous glucose monitoring systems. 

 

The system will be available in seven countries across Europe in the coming weeks.

 

Abbott's FreeStyle Libre System consists of a small, round sensor worn on the back of the upper arm, which measures glucose every minute in interstitial fluid through a small filament that is inserted just under the skin and held in place with a small adhesive pad. A reader is scanned over the sensor to get a glucose result painlessly in less than one second. Scanning can take place while the sensor is under clothing, making testing more discreet and convenient. Each scan displays a real-time glucose result, a historical trend and the direction the glucose is heading. The reader holds up to 90 days of data, providing a historical snapshot of glucose levels over time. The FreeStyle Libre System software enables the data to be presented in a visual chart for both healthcare professionals and patients.

 

"The FreeStyle Libre System fulfills a major need for people living with diabetes," stated Robert Ford, SVP Diabetes Care, Abbott. "Our customers told us that the pain, inconvenience and indiscretion of finger pricking were the key reasons they weren't managing their diabetes as well as they should. Addressing these concerns has guided the development of FreeStyle Libre - a transformational product designed to not only remove the pain of finger pricking but also seamlessly integrate into their daily lives."