On Sept. 3, 2014, Abbott announced it had received CE Mark (Conformite Europeenne) for its FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System, a revolutionary new glucose sensing technology for people with diabetes.

The system eliminates the need for routine finger pricks, reading glucose levels through a sensor that can be worn on the back of the upper arm for up to 14 days. In addition, no finger prick calibration is needed-a key differentiator from current continuous glucose monitoring systems.

Abbott′s FreeStyle Libre System consists of a small, round sensor—approximately the size of a two Euro coin—worn on the back of the upper arm, which measures glucose every minute in interstitial fluid through a small (5mm long, 0.4mm wide) filament that is inserted just under the skin and held in place with a small adhesive pad. A reader is scanned over the sensor to get a glucose result painlessly in less than one second. Scanning can take place while the sensor is under clothing, making testing more discreet and convenient.

Each scan displays a real-time glucose result, a historical trend and the direction the glucose is heading. The reader holds up to 90 days of data, providing a historical snapshot of glucose levels over time. The FreeStyle Libre System software enables the data to be presented in a user-friendly, visual chart for both healthcare professionals and patients, driving a more productive discussion around treatment and any necessary modification.

According to the International Diabetes Federation, there are 382 million people around the globe living with diabetes, more than 56 million of whom live in Europe, and that number is projected to increase by more than 20 percent by the year 2035³. FreeStyle Libre System eliminates the challenges of routine glucose monitoring for people with diabetes, enabling them to maintain a better understanding of their glucose levels.