Evaluation of the usefulness of and satisfaction with the flash glucose monitoring system (FreeStyle Libre®) guide for use in patients with type 1 diabetes

• Published in: Endocrinología, diabetes y nutrición.
• Main Authors: Mateu-Salat, Manuel, Moreno-Fernández, Jesús, Mangas, Natalia, Genua, Idoia, Martínez, María José, López, Alicia, González, Cintia, Chico, Ana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Spain 01-05-2022
• Subjects: Diabetes education; Flash Guide; Monitorización flash de glucosa; FreeStyle Libre; Guía Flash; Flash glucose monitoring; Type 1 diabetes; Diabetes tipo 1; Tecnología aplicada a la diabetes; Technology applied to diabetes; Educación diabetológica
• ISSN: 2530-0180
• DOI: 10.1016/j.endinu.2021.04.008

The Flash Guide (FG) for insulin dosing (A. Chico, C. González) was the first document intended for FreeStyle Libre® (FSL) user patients to help with decision-making depending on glucose level and trend. The objective of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of and the level of satisfaction with the recommendations given by the FG in a group of patients with type 1 diabetes (DM1) who were FSL users. It included 31 subjects (54% women; age 41±15 years; DM duration 21±14 years; 22 with FSL>12 months) who were provided with the FG. They completed a questionnaire on decision-making depending on glucose trend in different situations (before and three months after using the FG), and a satisfaction questionnaire (ad hoc). Demographic, clinical and glycaemic control data were collected. The percentage of subjects who used glucose trend in decision-making after receiving the FG increased: for adjusting insulin (51 vs. 83; P=.016), action without insulin (51 vs. 90%; P=.001), and in special circumstances. The FG was evaluated as very useful (4.19/5). There were no significant changes in glycaemic control, although the percentage of data gathered increased significantly (89.07 vs. 94.46%; P=.042). In conclusion, the FG was evaluated well for managing glucose trends with FSL by the patients with DM1 analysed, increasing their use of trend in decision-making, with no changes in glycaemic control, but with more data gathered.