Why Sensor-based Glucose Monitoring?

Sensor-based glucose monitoring systems continuously measure interstitial fluid glucose levels throughout the day and record this info in the reading device.

Sensor-based glucose monitoring devices, such as the FreeStyle Libre portfolio of products, are simple and easy to use.¹ A small, discreet sensor worn on the back of the upper arm continuously measures the glucose concentration in the body's interstitial fluid, providing glucose readings to your patients' smartphones day and night.^◊

Sensor-based vs. Blood Glucose Monitoring

Sensor-based Glucose Monitoring offers various benefits for your patients over Blood Glucose Monitoring

Requires finger pricks
Requires manual testing multiple times a day
Requires you to carry strips, lancet and meter to test
Provides glucose levels at a single moment of time

Painless², without finger pricks^†
Automatically measures glucose levels
FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor delivers readings directly to your patients smartphone^◊,ǁ
Provides the whole picture about both the current glucose level and changes over time^φ
Helps to see the impact of activities and food
Proven to reduce time in hypoglycaemia^2,4 and improve overall glucose control^3,4

Sensor-based vs. Blood Glucose Monitoring

Our Sensor-based Glucose Monitoring technology allows people with diabetes to easily know their glucose levels and where they're heading without finger pricks.^†

1. Patients wear the sensor

The sensors are small, unobtrusive, and easily applied to the back of the upper arm.¹ The sensors come with an applicator and use a small, flexible tip that is inserted just under the skin.

2. Sensor measures glucose levels

The sensor measures glucose readings through the whole 14 day wear period.

3. Patients view glucose readings on their smartphone

Patients who start their sensor using the FreeStyle LibreLink^◊ app can monitor their glucose levels on their compatible smartphone.

If your patient is using a FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor, they can also receive optional alarms to let them know the minute their glucose is too high or too low.^¤

Interstitial fluid vs. blood glucose readings

Why don’t interstitial fluid readings and blood glucose readings always match?

Glucose in the blood takes time to make its way into the interstitial fluid so there may be a lag time between the readings.

Average lag time between the FreeStyle Libre sensors* and blood glucose readings:

2.1 minutes for children⁵
2.4 minutes for adults⁵

When glucose levels are stable, the two readings may be very similar. However, if glucose is rising or falling, then they might be different.

When blood glucose levels are stable,
the glucose measurement displayed by the FreeStyle Libre sensors in the interstitial fluid, are similar to blood glucose.

When blood glucose levels increase,
the glucose measurement displayed by the FreeStyle Libre sensors in the interstitial fluid may be below the blood glucose reading.

When blood glucose levels decrease,
the glucose measurement displayed by the FreeStyle Libre sensors in the interstitial fluid may be higher than the blood glucose reading.

Watch the video to find out more about the difference between testing interstitial fluid vs. blood glucose:

Accuracy

How accurate is continuous glucose monitoring?

FreeStyle Libre

The FreeStyle Libre sensor is accurate, stable and consistent over 14 days⁵ without the need for finger prick calibration.^†

Accuracy is assessed by looking at the glucose readings the sensor provides compared to known independent reference. In this case, the reference is a finger prick blood glucose reading which is taken at the same time as the sensor scan. The comparison between the two different readings is plotted on a graph called a Consensus Error grid.

The closer the sensor reading to the reference blood glucose meter reading, the better the accuracy. This is reflected by the Consensus Error Grid by various areas on the graph labelled A to E. The higher the percentage of readings in Zones A and B, the more accurate the sensor is. The consensus Error Grid below shows 99.9% of readings in Zone A + B of the Consensus Error Grid.⁵

FreeStyle Libre 2

The FreeStyle Libre 2 system has an overall MARD of 9.2%^5,6

The FreeStyle Libre 2 system has an overall 9.2% MARD with 99.9% (for adults) and 100% (for paediatrics) of readings in Zones A and B of the Consensus Error Grid without the need for finger prick calibration.^†

No finger prick calibration, ever

Calibration is needed for commercially available CGM systems because the sensitivity of each sensor can vary within each batch that is made. The FreeStyle Libre sensors* are calibrated at the factory – so your patients won’t need to calibrate it using a finger prick, ever.^† This means you and your patients can be confident in the accuracy of the system, and that the accuracy you're receiving is what is reported, without being affected by discrepancies caused by finger prick calibration.

Discover the FreeStyle Libre Portfolio

The #1 sensor-based glucose monitoring systems used worldwide⁶

The FreeStyle Libre System

Our original sensor-based glucose monitoring system. An easy way to check¹ glucose with a painless² 1-second scan.

Discover FreeStyle Libre

The FreeStyle Libre 2 System

Minute-to-minute glucose readings sent to your patient's smartphone^◊ to help them manage their diabetes more confidently⁷

Discover FreeStyle Libre 2

Digital Health Solutions

Discover how you can get the most out of the FreeStyle Libre Portfolio with our Digital Health Solutions for both you and your patients

Discover Digital Health

References & Disclaimers

Images are for illustrative purposes only. Not real patient or data.

† Finger pricks are required if glucose readings and alarms do not match symptoms or expectations. Glucose alarms are available for FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor users only.

◊ The FreeStyle LibreLink app is only compatible with certain mobile devices and operating systems. Please check the website for more information about device compatibility before using the app. Use of FreeStyle LibreLink may require registration with LibreView.

ǁ Glucose readings are automatically displayed in the FreeStyle LibreLink app only when your patients' smartphones and FreeStyle Libre 2 sensors are connected and in range.

φ For a complete glycaemic picture on the FreeStyle Libre system, scan once every 8 hours. For a complete glycaemic picture on the FreeStyle Libre 2 system, scan once every 8 hours during signal loss.

¤ Notifications will only be received when alarms are turned on and the sensor is within 20ft of the reading device. Users must have override do not disturb settings enabled to receive alarms and alerts on their smartphone.

* FreeStyle Libre sensors refers to the FreeStyle Libre and FreeStyle Libre 2 sensors.

1. Data on file, Abbott Diabetes Care, Inc.

2. Haak, T. Diabetes Ther (2017): https://doi.org/10.1007/s13300-016-0223-6

3. Yaron, M. Diabetes Care (2019): https://doi.org/10.2337/dc18-0166.

4. Leelarathna, L. N Engl J Med. (2022): DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2205650.

5. Alva, Shridhara, Timothy Bailey, Ronald L. Brazg, Erwin S. Budiman, Kristin Castorino, Mark P. Christiansen, Gregory Forlenza, Mark Kipnes, David R. Liljenquist, and Hanqing Liu. “Accuracy of a 14-Day Factory-Calibrated Continuous Glucose Monitoring System with Advanced Algorithm in Pediatric and Adult Population With Diabetes. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, (September 2020). http://doi.org/10.1177/1932296820958754.

6. FreeStyle Libre 2 system Performance Data Sheet.

7. Fokkert, M. BMJ Open Diab Res Care (2019): https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjdrc-2019-000809.

FreeStyle Portal

The sensor housing, FreeStyle Libre, and related brand marks are marks of Abbott. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. No use of any Abbott trademark, trade name, or trade dress in this site may be made without the prior written authorisation of Abbott Laboratories, except to identify the product or services of the company.

This website and the information contained herein is intended for use by residents of Ireland. The product images are for illustrative purposes only.

©️ 2024 Abbott Laboratories Limited. All rights reserved.

Registered Number: 11542. Registered Office: Block B, Liffey Valley Office Campus, Quarryvale, Dublin 22 D22 X0Y3, Ireland.

Why Sensor-based Glucose Monitoring?

Sensor-based glucose monitoring systems continuously measure interstitial fluid glucose levels throughout the day and record this info in the reading device.

Sensor-based vs. Blood Glucose Monitoring

Sensor-based Glucose Monitoring offers various benefits for your patients over Blood Glucose Monitoring

Blood Glucose
Monitoring

FreeStyle Libre Portfolio

Sensor-based vs. Blood Glucose Monitoring