Health Tech Insider editors and writers habitually ignore hyperbolic press releases and announcements, especially when they feature stacks of questionable claims such as “the world’s first, smallest, or most accurate.” That’s why HTI publisher and editor-in-chief Alfred Poor’s assignment notes for Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 3 FDA clearance announcement commanded my attention. Alfred noted the superlatives in Abbott’s news release headline: “World’s Smallest, Thinnest and Most Accurate 14-Day Glucose Sensor.” Given that Abbott is generally conservative in its claims, as Alfred noted, “It ain’t bragging if it’s true.”
The FreeStyle Libre 3’s 14-day continuous glucose monitoring system can be a godsend for people with diabetes. The CGM sends blood sugar level data directly to a smartphone app every minute. It’s nice that the FreeStyle Libre 3 may be the smallest, thinnest and easy to use. The device’s up-to-33-foot Bluetooth range is also impressive. However, for people living with diabetes, Abbott claiming the highest accuracy of 14-day CGMs carries the most weight. Convenience is fine, but accurate data blows all other factors out of consideration when a false reading can have dire consequences.
According to Abbott, the FreeStyle Libre 3 system is “the first CGM to demonstrate a sub-8% mean absolute relative difference (MARD)”, the standard measure of CGM accuracy. The lower the MARD percentage the better, and the FreeStyle Libre 3 scored 7.9%.
The FDA cleared Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 3 system for use with iOS and Android apps. Users can set up alarms and alerts based on glucose level thresholds. They can also see glucose levels in real time as well as view their history and trends. If configured with Abbott’s LibreView and LibreLinkUp, caregivers and healthcare professionals can also monitor the users data. The FDA clearance extends the FreeStyle Libre 3 system for people as young as four years old, another feathered nock in the FreeStyle Libre 3 quiver. Abbot announced that the FreeStyle Libre 3 sensor will be available at pharmacies later in 2022.
Diabetes is such a global endemic scourge that it’s heartening to see dramatic advances in technology that can improve patient health outcomes and quality of life. And, if you want to crow a bit, as Zero Mostel hollered out a window in Mel Brooks’ 1967 film The Producers, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it.”
