Real-world study of flash glucose monitoring among adults with type 2 diabetes within the Swedish National Diabetes Register

BackgroundThe Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR) initiated registration of the FreeStyle Libre (R) system and other continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems in June 2016. We investigated change in HbA1c for people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) using FreeStyle Libre in Sweden.MethodsWe included adults with T2DM, registered in the NDR after January 1, 2014, and an index date for first use of FreeStyle Libre of June 2016 or later. Methodology was a before/after comparison of HbA1c within 6 months before the index date versus HbA1c around 6 and 12 months after the index date.Results711 adults with T2DM using FreeStyle Libre had HbA1c measurements within the study period. Mean HbA1c was significantly reduced at 6 months (-0.50%-unit) and at 12 months (-0.52%-unit) in this group. Degree of change was negatively correlated to baseline HbA1c. Reductions in HbA1c were observed in incident users of FreeStyle Libre with T2DM who were truly naive to CGM or had unknown prior experience of CGM, and aged 25-74 years.ConclusionsThis real-world study on the Swedish NDR shows that people with T2DM using FreeStyle Libre system for 6 and 12 months significantly reduced their HbA1c.