Abbott, a leader in sensor-based glucose monitoring, announced it has received public reimbursement in Ontario and Quebec, Canada for its FreeStyle® Libre system.
It becomes the first sensor-based glucose monitoring system to be listed by any provincial health plan in Canada.
Quebec residents 18 years or older and Ontario residents using insulin are eligible for reimbursement under the public programs.
The FreeStyle Libre system replaces traditional blood glucose monitoring and allows patients to dose insulin based on the results.
“Healthcare professionals and patients tell us that the FreeStyle Libre system is life-changing,” said Marie-Flore Nabor, general manager of Abbott’s diabetes care business in Canada.
These reimbursement listings are important for the many Ontario and Quebec residents who rely on provincial health plans to ensure they have access to this breakthrough technology,” she added.
Nabor said Abbott will continue to work with other provincial and territorial governments to make the FreeStyle Libre system more widely available to all Canadians living with diabetes.
How Does the FreeStyle Libre Work?
The FreeStyle Libre system monitors glucose levels continuously through a small sensor worn on the back of the upper arm for up to 14 days.
A one-second scan of the sensor with a handheld reader or smartphone provides a real-time glucose reading and a complete picture of a person’s glucose levels.
In 2018, the Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines recommended technology like the FreeStyle Libre system as an important tool to help patients better manage their diabetes and prevent long-term complications.
The FreeStyle Libre system is the longest-lasting, self-applied glucose sensor currently available.
It allows users to see comprehensive glucose information, identify glucose trends with a directional arrow and review eight hours of glucose history.
Additionally, the FreeStyle LibreLink mobile app is available for people with compatible smartphones to obtain their glucose data with a quick scan.
Patients and their healthcare professionals can see patterns over time and make adjustments to lifestyle, diet or treatment, as needed.
Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre system was authorized for sale by Health Canada in 2017.
Abbott has secured partial or full reimbursement for the FreeStyle Libre system in 33 countries, including France, Ireland, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.
To learn more about the FreeStyle Libre system, visit www.myfreestyle.ca.
Feature image courtesy: Abbott.
Source:
- Abbott. (2019, September 13). Abbott’s Revolutionary FreeStyle® Libre System Now Reimbursed in the Two Largest Provinces in Canada. PR Newswire. Retrieved September 13, 2019 from
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/abbotts-revolutionary-freestyle-libre-system-now-reimbursed-in-the-two-largest-provinces-in-canada-300917491.html