Pharmaceutical and medical technology company Abbott recently hosted an event in Stockholm for a gathering of European bloggers, many of whom were sporting one of Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre sensors, as well as insulin pumps.
The event was to bring news to the European diabetes community about some new apps, the LibreLink and a partnership with Diasend, all of which are about increasing connectivity so that data from the Libre sensor system can be seen and shared more easily.
The Android mobile app version of LibreLink is rolling out across Europe and is very newly available in the UK. According to the agency Accenture there has been a 50% growth in the use of mobile health apps, the aim of which is to help people make better management decisions about their condition. The LibreLink app is available to download from GooglePlay for free. Using this, data from the Libre sensor is beamed directly into your smartphone using NFC (Near Field Communications). It means you can now use your phone to swipe over the sensor (you might have to hold it against the sensor just a little bit longer than if using the reader).
The insulin calculator is not available in the app, as that can only work with capillary blood not interstitial body fluid. And, as there is no strip port in your phone, you can’t actually test your blood or ketones as you can with the Libre’s original reader device. However, there is nothing to stop you using both your phone and a reader, but be careful of having only some data in two different places (or scan both devices have complete sets of data in both places).
Using your phone makes it even easier to send your data via email to an HCP or partner. The data is shown in the form of various reports, such as average glucose by time of day, or daily graphs, or see your estimated HbA1c. It’s a pretty little app that helps make sense of your data while using something that you’re using everyday anyway. As your phone is more than likely to have WiFi it means your data can also be automatically stored in the Cloud via LibreView (as the reader does not have WiFi it can’t do this). The app itself does not need an internet connection for normal use, only at the initial setup to start an account.
The iPhone version of the app is in development and will be available next year. iPhones use Bluetooth not NFC so if you are an Apple-based user you will need another bit of kit, a small item the size of a keyfob, which you will have to pair with the devices in order that it can connect to the data and to the Cloud.
Extended partnership
Abbot had also increased its connectivity with Diasend, which is a universal solution for data management for people with diabetes. It allows a patient to choose if they want their Healthcare Professionals to see their data. Diasend works with multiple devices. It means that patients can cherry pick the devices they want to use and Diasend draws in the data from each of them, which is useful if they do not already ‘talk’ to one another. Providing seamless integration, it’s free for patients to access, you simply open an account at home and download, or use the LibreLink app on your phone. When you swipe the data can go direct to your Diasend account.
Libra is an enhanced way of glucose monitoring its strip replacement product with improved connectivity via apps to access support by sharing data and therefore helping people make better decisions and gain better control of their condition. Ehealth that is rooted in connectivity is really starting to happen.
A cloud-to-cloud connection, Anders Sonesson, CEO at Diasend says, “It’s a perfect match between game changing glucose sensing hardware and industry leading data management software.”
Eric Davis, director of New Product Innovation for diabetes care at Abbott adds, “Abbott is committed to helping people achieve their best health so we strive to give our customers access to the best possible products and services to help them better manage their diabetes. Our collaboration with Diasend is one more step in that direction and we are excited to bring our customers even closer together with their physicians.”
LibreLink is a mobile application, developed and provided by AirStrip. Use of LibreLink requires registration with LibreView, a service provided by Abbott and Newyu, Inc. FreeStyle Libre readers and sensors are provided by Abbott. Data charges may apply when downloading the LibreLink app. The LibreLink app is compatible with phones that support NFC and run Android 4.0 or higher. The LibreLink app and the FreeStyle Libre reader have similar but not identical features. A finger prick test using a blood glucose meter is required during times of rapidly changing glucose levels when interstitial fluid glucose levels may not accurately reflect blood glucose levels or if hypoglycemia or impending hypoglycemia is reported by the LibreLink app or when symptoms do not match the LibreLink app readings.
This news item first appeared in Desang Diabetes Magazine, our free-to-receive digital journal. We cover diabetes news, diabetes management equipment (diabetes kit) and news about food suitable for a diabetic diet. Go to the top of this page to sign up – we just need your email address.
