<b>Objective</b>
<p>The
RELIEF study assessed rates of hospitalization for
acute diabetes complications in France, before and after initiating the FreeStyle
Libre system. </p>
<p><b>Research
Design and Methods</b></p>
<p>74,011
patients with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes who initiated the FreeStyle
Libre system were identified from the French national claim database (SNDS) using
ICD-10 codes, from hospitalizations with diabetes as a contributing diagnosis, or
the prescription of insulin. Patients were sub-classified based on SMBG strip-acquisition
prior to starting FreeStyle Libre. Hospitalizations for DKA, severe
hypoglycemia, diabetes-related coma and hyperglycemia were recorded for the 12
months before and after initiation. </p>
<p><b>Results</b></p>
<p>Hospitalizations
for acute diabetes complications fell in type 1 diabetes (-49.0%) and in type 2
diabetes (-39.4%) following FreeStyle Libre initiation. DKA fell in type 1
diabetes (-56.2%,) and in type 2 diabetes (-52.1%), as did diabetes-related
comas in type 1 diabetes (-39.6%) and in type 2 diabetes (-31.9%).
Hospitalizations for hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia decreased in type 2
diabetes (-10.8% and -26.5%, respectively). Before initiation, hospitalizations were most marked for people non-compliant
with SMBG and for those with highest acquisition of SMBG, which fell by -54.0%
and 51.2% respectively following FreeStyle Libre initiation. Persistence with FreeStyle Libre at 12 months was 98.1%.</p>
<p><b>Conclusions</b></p>
<p>This
large retrospective study on hospitalizations for acute diabetes complication shows
that a significantly lower incidence of admissions
for DKA and for diabetes-related coma is
associated with use of flash glucose monitoring. This study has significant
implications for patient-centered diabetes care and potentially for long-term
health economic outcomes.</p>
<br>
<p> </p>
Acute diabetes complications
