Abbott’s Libre CGM Lowers HbA1c 0.6% and Adds 2.5 Healthy Hours Daily
Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitor reduced HbA1c by 0.6% and increased daily healthy glucose time by 2.5 hours over four months in the 303-patient FreeDM2 trial. A complementary 88-patient Italian study confirmed similar improvements, bolstering the case for broader CGM reimbursement for basal insulin users.
1. FreeDM2 Trial Results
The FreeDM2 randomized controlled trial enrolled 303 Type 2 diabetes patients on basal insulin plus SGLT2 or GLP-1 therapies across 24 UK sites. After four months, users of FreeStyle Libre CGM saw a 0.6% greater HbA1c reduction (p<0.001) and 2.5 additional hours per day in the 70–180 mg/dL range versus finger-stick monitoring.
2. Italian Study Confirmation
An 88-participant interventional study in Italy mirrored FreeDM2 outcomes, showing improved average glucose, extended time in range, and enhanced quality of life over three months of real-world Libre CGM use. These consistent results across studies highlight the effectiveness of real-time glucose data for basal insulin users.
3. Implications for Reimbursement
Current CGM reimbursement often excludes basal-only insulin patients despite only 18–30% reaching HbA1c targets. The demonstrated 0.6% HbA1c drop and 10.4% time-in-range gain make a compelling case for payers to extend coverage to this large population.
4. Market and Strategic Impact
With roughly 63 million Type 2 diabetics reliant on insulin globally and an estimated $217 billion in annual care costs, expanding Libre CGM access could drive adoption beyond Abbott’s existing 8 million users in 60+ countries and support revenue growth in its diabetes care division.