Abbott receives CE mark for glucose monitoring system without finger prick

Abbott today announced receiving CE mark approval for its new glucose sensing technology for people with diabetes, called FreeStyle Libre Flash glucose monitoring system, according to a company release.

The new system allows glucose monitoring without finger-prick calibration.

“The FreeStyle System fulfills a major need for people living with diabetes,” Robert Ford, senior vice president of Abbott Diabetes Care, said in the release. “Our customers told us that the pain, inconvenience and indiscretion of finger pricking were the key reasons they weren’t managing their diabetes as well as they should. Addressing these concerns has guided the development of FreeStyle Libre — a transformational product designed to not only remove the pain of finger pricking but also seamlessly integrate into their daily lives.”

The system consists of a small, round sensor working on the back of the upper arm. Glucose is measured every minute in interstitial fluid through a small filament inserted just under the skin. The system can be worn under the clothing to allow more discrete screening. Up to 90 days of data can be held in the system, allowing monitoring of glucose levels over time.

A recent study by Abbott revealed that the system is accurate, stable and consistent in monitoring glucose for 14 days without the use of a finger prick.

The system will be available in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom during the next few weeks.