Important Drop Rate of Acute Diabetes Complications in People With Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes After Initiation of Flash Glucose Monitoring in France: The RELIEF Study
The RELIEF study assessed rates of hospitalization for acute diabetes complications in France, before and after initiating the FreeStyle Libre system.
Research Design and Methods
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.
Results
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%.
Conclusions
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.
