The RELIEF study has previously shown a reduction of hospitalisation for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the 12 months and 24 months after initiation of the FreeStyle Libre system in France.2,3
RELIEF study subgroup analysis1
Impact of FreeStyle Libre system₼ use on acute diabetes events in people with T2D on basal insulin
Decrease in hospitalisations for acute diabetes events in patients with type 2 diabetes on basal insulin
Study objective
The 2-year subgroup analysis of the RELIEF study regarding acute diabetes events (ADEs) was published by Guerci and colleagues in the expert journal Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics. It provides new insights into the frequency of hospitalisation for Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), severe hypoglycaemia (SH), hyperglycaemia and comas in participants with type 2 diabetes on basal insulin during use of the FreeStyle Libre system (FSL).1
Study design and study population
A total of 5933 people with T2D on basal insulin therapy initiated FSL between August 1 and December 31, 2017. These patients included 1994 who started FSL in 2017 and 3939 who started in 2018. Of these, 1250 were on basal-only insulin therapy, with no additional antidiabetic medication.
A further 4683 patients were on basal insulin plus at least one other antihyperglycemic medication. Among oral antidiabetic drugs used in this subgroup, 39.7% were on a sulfonylurea, 34.2% were on a DPP4-inhibitor, and 23.6% were on a glinide.1
Hospitalisations for DKA, SH, hyperglycaemia and diabetes-related coma were recorded for the 12 months prior to and up to 24 months after FreeStyle Libre system initiation.1
Reduction in hospitalisation rates for ADEs in T2D patients on basal insulin with the FreeStyle Libre system
About the RELIEF study subgroup analysis in T2D patients
on basal insulin1
The RELIEF study was conducted as a longitudinal retrospective cohort study using data from the French nationwide reimbursement claim database SNDS.1,2
Data on hospitalisation related to acute diabetic events were collected based on ICD-10 codes before and after the availability of the FreeStyle Libre system.1
5,933 people with T2D on basal insulin initiating the FreeStyle Libre system during the study period (2017/08/01 to 2018/12/31) were identified.2
At baseline almost 4 of 5 of FreeStyle Libre users with T2D were on basal insulin therapy and ≥1 antihyperglycemic medication, while 1 of 5 received basal insulin treatment with no additional antidiabetic medication. Patients of all ages were included in the analysis.
Study results
Table showing Treatment characteristics at initiation of FSL.
Treatment related ADEs at 12 months after FreeStyle Libre system (FSL) initiation
Figure 1: Percentage of people with T2DM on basal insulin therapy with hospital admission for ADEs 12 months before and after initiation of the FreeStyle Libre system.
Treatment related ADEs
Figure 2: Percentage of people with T2DM on basal insulin therapy with hospital admission for ADEs 12 months before and 12 and 24 months after initiation of the FreeStyle Libre system.
Treatment characteristics of patients starting FreeStyle Libre system
Figure 3: Charts illustrating the treatment regimens at 6–12 months for patients with at least 1 year of follow-up (n = 5933) and at 18–24 months for patients with at least 2 years of follow-up (n = 1994) after starting the FreeStyle Libre system. After 6–12 months following initiation of FSL, 11.7% of patients had stopped using insulin, moving to noninsulin antihyperglycemic drugs only (5.5%) or by ceasing treatment altogether (6.2%). After starting FSL for 18–24 months, 18.8% of patients had reverted to noninsulin drugs alone (6.4%) or had stopped treatment (12.4%).
Summary
The use of the FreeStyle Libre system reduced hospitalisation for ADEs sustainably for 2 years in people with T2D in France, who were not on intensive insulin therapy (IIT) and initially treated with basal-only insulin therapy.
The study results strongly suggest that use of the FreeStyle Libre system is associated with reductions in hospitalisation rate for ADEs independent of the insulin treatment.
The authors conclude that FreeStyle Libre system should be more widely prescribed as part of individualized care for patients with T2D treated with a basal-only insulin regimen, who may be at risk of DKA or severe hypoglycaemia requiring hospitalisation.
₼ Sales of the original FreeStyle Libre system has been discontinued in EU & UK markets. In these markets, the FreeStyle Libre 2 and 3 systems are for sale, providing the same benifits as the original FreeStyle Libre system, with the added functionalities of optional Real-Time Alarams.
SNDS= Système National des Données de Santé
Reference
1. Guerci B, et al. Important Decrease in Hospitalisations for Acute Diabetes Events Following FreeStyle Libre System Initiation in People with Type 2 Diabetes on Basal Insulin Therapy in France. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2023;25(1): 20-30.
2. Roussel R et al. Important Drop in Rate of Acute Diabetes Complications in People With Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes After Initiation of Flash Glucose
Monitoring in France: The RELIEF Study. Diabetes care, 2021;44,6: 1368-1376.
3. Riveline J-P, et al. Reduced Rate of Acute Diabetes Events with Flash Glucose Monitoring Is Sustained for 2 Years After Initiation: Extended Outcomes from the RELIEF Study. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2022;24(9): 611-618.
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