37
KIT
The experience
has been
wonderful so
far, and I'd
recommend it to
anyone who has
this integrated
system as an
option for them.
~ Elise Fowler
Following a successful pilot
in six hospitals in the UK,
a new integrated diabetes
management system will now
be widely accessible to people living
with Type 1 diabetes.
Abbott's FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus
(also known as FSL2+) glucose
sensor integrates with Insulet's
tubeless Omnipod 5 Automated
Insulin Delivery (AID) System,
without the need for additional
devices, connections or tubes,
offering personalised automated
insulin delivery and care for people
living with diabetes.The system was
launched in the UK and Netherlands
in April, and it is now widely available
to anyone who qualifies for a hybrid
closed loop system on the NHS.
This marks the second major
insulin pump integration for Abbott,
and Omnipod 5 is (at the moment)
the first and only tubeless automated
insulin delivery (AID) system to
integrate with the FreeStyle Libre 2
Plus sensor.
Neil Harris, general manager for
Abbott's diabetes care business in
the UK and Ireland, explains, "While
Abbott's latest FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus
sensor has been available on the Drug
Tariff since April, GP system updates
take a few months and we're pleased
to announce that the sensor is now
widely available on prescription
across the UK. We know that bringing
two of the most widely used diabetes
management systems together will
make life a little easier for thousands
of people across Britain."
Direct comms
Elise Fowler, a former team GB age
group triathlete was one of the first
to be initiated on the new system.
Talking about her experience, she
says, "I was diagnosed with Type 1
diabetes at the age of 24. Learning
to live with diabetes was tough at
first. The FreeStyle Libre 2 system
really helped me take control of
my condition, which allowed me to
continue my passion for competing -
something I still do today with open
water swimming. Transitioning to
technology that allows my glucose
monitoring and insulin delivery
systems to communicate directly,
has been incredible. Having my
background insulin controlled by
the pump and FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus
sensor means I no longer have as
many hypos, and therefore don't
need to snack to keep my levels up
when I'm not even hungry.
"As someone who takes part in
such varied sports, I need less insulin
to be delivered automatically when
exercising, and I had learnt how to
control this by turning my pump on
and off manually. But the activity
feature on my new system now
reduces insulin delivery and sets an
appropriate glucose target for as long
as I need it, which means I can stay
much more in control during exercise.
The experience has been wonderful
so far, and I'd recommend it to anyone
who has this integrated system as an
option for them. For me, it's made
managing my diabetes alongside my
love of sports, even easier."
University Hospitals of Leicester
was one of the hospitals that had
been trialling the Omnipod 5 and
FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus sensor.
Professor Pratik Choudhary is a
professor and honorary consultant
in diabetes with a special interest in
type 1 diabetes and technology at the
University of Leicester. He says that,
"Allowing patients to continue using
a sensor they were familiar with
eased the process of on-boarding
to the Omnipod 5 and has helped us
seamlessly transition more patients
onto this hybrid closed loop system."
Meanwhile, Professor Partha Kar,
Type 1 Diabetes and Technology
Lead at NHS England, adds: "The
integration of Omnipod 5 with the
FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus sensor will
allow the life changing benefits of
Automated Insulin Delivery systems
to be brought to many more people
throughout the UK. This is an
exciting next step on this incredible
journey to simplify life for people
living with Type 1 diabetes."
www.freestylelibre.co.uk
The new FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus
sensor can be worn up to 15 days; it
is indicated for children 2 years and
older[3] and demonstrates outstanding
15-day accuracy[4]. Anyone currently
using the FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor can
ask their healthcare professional about
switching to the FreeStyle Libre 2
Plus sensor.