For 25 years, I have had Sort 1 diabetes. Just like the tens of hundreds of thousands of American citizens with diabetes, one of the vital necessary issues I’ve to do to stick wholesome is be certain that my blood sugar is in commonplace vary.
Steady glucose screens (CGMs) permit diabetics to trace their blood sugar 24/7. They are extremely helpful, offering perception on how your blood sugar reacts to insulin, meals, workout and no matter else impacts it.
Abbott Laboratories and Dexcom are the leaders within the CGM marketplace, which hit $5.1 billion in earnings in 2021 and is predicted to achieve $13.2 billion via 2028, consistent with Vantage Marketplace Analysis. Abbott’s CGM methods, referred to as FreeStyle Libre, generated $3.7 billion in earnings closing yr, with 4 million customers globally.
Abbott has simply launched its latest CGM, the FreeStyle Libre 3. It comes with crucial improve. While the former methods have been “flash” CGMs, which means that you needed to dangle your reader or telephone with reference to the sensor to get a studying, the brand new model sends knowledge immediately in your telephone.
I attempted it out for over a month. Listed below are my takeaways:
The way it works
The insertion tool is available in a small field and is slightly compact. The Libre 3 is most effective licensed via the Meals and Drug Management to enter the arm. The insertion was once painless, and the sensor itself is tiny in comparison to others I have used.
CNBC’s Erin Black assessments new CGM Abbott Freestyle Libre 3
CNBC | Erin Black
The app calls for a scan of the sensor, after which it takes 60 mins to heat up. Right through the primary 12 hours, a blood drop icon will seem.
Abbott Freestyle Libre 3 iPhone app
CNBC | Andrew Evers
Abbott says the sensor is acclimating. It additionally advises the use of a blood glucose meter to make sure the sensor is correct. I discovered that it was once correct right away, even whilst it was once warming up.
Abbott Freestyle Libre 3
CNBC | Erin Black
The sensor remains on for 14 days. It provides a brand new studying each and every minute, in comparison to a studying each and every 5 mins from the Dexcom G6. The adhesive labored smartly and confirmed no signal of falling off after two weeks. It nonetheless does not require finger sticks or calibration.
Abbott Freestyle Libre 3 sensor
CNBC | Andrew Evers
The fad arrows let you know in case your glucose is stable, emerging or falling. The alarms are customizable. If you wish to silence high and low indicators, you’ll use the app’s “don’t disturb” serve as. The pressing low alarm cannot be silenced, as required via the FDA.
The app has some helpful options for monitoring reasonable glucose and time in vary and will provide you with the approach to proportion the information with family members. It additionally has a reviews characteristic that will provide you with insights into patterns so you’ll make dosage changes.
The Libre 3 is small and correct
I like how small it’s, so small actually that I saved forgetting I used to be dressed in it. I put my Dexcom G6 close by to match. There is a giant distinction.
Abbott Freestyle Libre 3 dimension vs Dexcom G6
CNBC | Erin Black
It was once correct as a rule. However I discovered that all over occasions of speedy exchange, equivalent to after I forgot to take my insulin after a meal, it turned into faulty and had a troublesome time maintaining.
I did have two compression lows with the primary sensor. A compression low is when the sensor provides an fallacious low studying. One befell whilst I used to be slumbering on my aspect, and the opposite was once whilst I used to be sitting at the sofa and leaning at the sensor. I readjusted, and the tool briefly corrected itself. I made certain to select a greater placement for the second one sensor.
The app will also be advanced
Within the app, you’ll’t customise the graph dimension. It displays a spread of fifty mg/dL to 350 mg/dl. I might like the power to regulate that so it is a little tighter, as a result of my blood sugar hardly ever is going above 250 mg/dl, so there may be numerous wasted area.
There is additionally no talent to zoom into previous readings. Infrequently when I am low I really like in an effort to zoom in and notice how briefly the quantity is converting. And whilst it does ship notifications to my iWatch, Abbott does not but have an app suitable to make use of with it, so seeing your blood sugar in your watch is not conceivable. Abbott says it is one thing they are operating on for the long run.
Abbott Freestyle Libre 3 Apple iWatch notification
CNBC | Erin Black
Prescription required, value varies
The Libre 3 calls for a prescription, so the fee will probably be other for everybody. Abbott stated customers with insurance coverage can be expecting to pay $0-$25 consistent with sensor and $70 consistent with sensor with out insurance coverage. You’ll be able to want to purchase two a month.
Would I like to recommend this to different diabetics? Sure, nevertheless it relies on the consumer. For diabetics like me who use insulin pumps, the Libre 3 is not suitable but. Abbott stated it is operating on pump integration with Tandem Diabetes and Insulet. The corporate could also be operating with Bigfoot Biomedical on integration with its insulin supply gadget.
For diabetics who depend on guide insulin injections or who vitamin to regulate their diabetes, it is a nice option to observe blood sugar.
