The RELIEF study1 has previously shown a reduced hospitalisation rate for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in people with
type 1 diabetes (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the 12 months after initiation of the FreeStyle Libre system in France.
Long-term reduction of hospitalisation for ketoacidosis
The RELIEF study1 has previously shown a reduced hospitalisation rate for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in people with
type 1 diabetes (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the 12 months after initiation of the FreeStyle Libre system in France.
Study design and study population
The 2-year RELIEF study follow-up was published by Riveline and colleagues in the expert journal Diabetes Technology
& Therapeutics. It provides new insights into the frequency of hospitalisation for acute diabetes events (ADEs), including
diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and severe hypoglycaemia, during use of the FreeStyle Libre (FSL) system.2
The longitudinal retrospective cohort study RELIEF included 31,446 T1D and 41,027 T2D patients with a first delivery of
the FreeStyle Libre system between August 1 and December 31, 2017.1 Hospitalisations for DKA, severe hypoglycaemia,
diabetes-related coma and hyperglycaemia were recorded for the 12 months prior to and 24 months after FreeStyle Libre
system initiation. Continous and consistent use of the FreeStyle Libre system use was also recorded. Change in usual
blood glucose monitoring was estimated through the acquisition of blood glucose test strips.2
Long-term reduction in hospitalisation rates for DKA in T1D and T2D
with the FreeStyle Libre system
Reduction in hospitalisation
rates for DKA in T1D by
49 % after 2 years
Reduction in hospitalisation
rates for DKA in T2D by
48% after 2 years
Persistence with the FSL
system 88% after 2 years
Reduction of consumed
blood glucose test strips by
82% and 84% in T1D and
T2D, respectively, after 2
years
About the RELIEF study follow-up1
Key patient baseline characteristics
Table 1 - Main characteristics of patients starting with the FreeStyle Libre system from August 1 2017
Annual percentage of patients with hospital admission for ADEs before and after initiation of the FSL system in patients with T1D (A) and T2D (B). *P= 0.01 for change in admissions for all acute ADEs from year 1 to year 2 for people living with T1DM; **P= 0.007 for change in admissions for all acute ADEs from year 1 to year 2 for people living with T2DM; ***P= 0.0003 for change in admissions for hypoglycaemia from year 1 to year 2 for people living with T2DM.
The use of the FreeStyle Libre system consistently reduces the rates of hospitalisation for ADEs, mainly DKA, both in T1D and T2D patients 2 years after initiation. The data confirm that this is not a transitory effect. The rate of patients who continuously and consistently used the FreeStyle Libre system after 2 years is high, indicating a high satisfaction with the FreeStyle Libre system. Use of the FreeStyle Libre system also results in a pronounced drop in use of blood glucose test strips over the 2-year period.
MDI, multiple daily insulin injections; SNDS= Système National des Données de Santé
Reference
1. 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):1368–76.
2. 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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