FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JUNE 7, 2018 • HEALTH • THE QUEENS COURIER 55
health
Glucose monitoring just got easier
If you are one of the 30 million Americans
with diabetes, you know all too well that
the painful routine of checking blood
sugar levels has remained unchanged for
decades. Prick your fi nger, drop blood on
a test strip, insert into a reader and wait.
Repeat up to eight times per day.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that aff ects
how your body processes blood sugar. And
according to the International Diabetes
Federation (IDF), the U.S. is one of the top
three countries in the world with the highest
diabetes prevalence.
“Every year, more than one million people
are diagnosed with diabetes and have
to learn how to best manage their disease,
including adjusting their diet, exercising
and closely monitoring their glucose
levels,” said Cher Pastore, MS, RDN,
Certifi ed Diabetes Educator, founder and
owner of CherNutrition in New York City.
“With that comes the dreaded fi ngerstick,
an important but painful and invasive part
of managing diabetes that many patients
struggle with for most of their lives. Until
now, the fi ngerstick has been the only way
to maintain a good handle on one’s glucose
levels and help inform treatment decisions.”
But managing your glucose levels just
got easier. Last fall, the FDA approved a
revolutionary diabetes wearable technology
that is unlike any other glucose monitoring
technology on the market and is
transforming the way people manage their
diabetes. Th e FreeStyle Libre system from
Abbott is a personal continuous glucose
monitor (CGM) that eliminates the need
for fi ngerstick calibration, allowing for
more fl exibility when managing your diabetes.
It also removes the burden of routine
fi ngersticks - the one step that people
with diabetes claim is the biggest reason
they don’t test their glucose levels as oft en
as they should.
With just a one second scan over a small
sensor that is worn on the back of the
upper arm for up to 10 days, the FreeStyle
Libre system provides people with their
current glucose level, historical trends and
patterns of where their glucose has been
and a directional arrow showing where
their glucose level is going. Th e FreeStyle
Libre system scans through clothing and
avoids interference with acetaminophen,
an active ingredient in common overthe
counter medications, which can falsely
raise reported glucose levels in certain
CGMs to appear as if they are at dangerously
high levels. Th e FreeStyle Libre sensor
also automatically measures glucose
readings day and night and is accurate for
insulin dosing.
“Patients have really been embracing the
FreeStyle Libre as it takes away the burden
of routine fi ngersticks, while at the same
time helping them manage their diabetes,”
said Pastore. “It’s easy to use and discreet,
and represents a true innovation that
empowers patients to make the best decisions
about their health.”
Th e FreeStyle Libre system is available
in major retail pharmacies. Visit www.
freestylelibre.us/cgm-experience to learn
more about how the FreeStyle Libre system
is transforming diabetes management
and how you can receive the system free
of charge.
INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT
SAFETY INFORMATION
Th e FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose
Monitoring system is a continuous glucose
monitoring (CGM) device indicated
for replacing blood glucose testing and
detecting trends and tracking patterns aiding
in the detection of episodes of hyperglycemia
and hypoglycemia, facilitating
both acute and long-term therapy adjustments
in persons (age 18 and older) with
diabetes. Th e system is intended for single
patient use and requires a prescription.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Remove the
sensor before MRI, CT scan, X-ray, or diathermy
treatment.
WARNINGS/LIMITATIONS: Do not
ignore symptoms that may be due to
low or high blood glucose, hypoglycemic
unawareness, or dehydration. Check sensor
glucose readings with a blood glucose
meter when Check Blood Glucose symbol
appears, when symptoms do not match
system readings, or when readings are
suspected to be inaccurate. Th e FreeStyle
Libre system does not have alarms unless
the sensor is scanned, and the system contains
small parts that may be dangerous if
swallowed. Th e FreeStyle Libre system is
not approved for pregnant women, persons
on dialysis, or critically-ill population.
Sensor placement is not approved
for sites other than the back of the arm
and standard precautions for transmission
of blood borne pathogens should be
taken. Th e built-in blood glucose meter is
not for use on dehydrated, hypotensive, in
shock, hyperglycemic-hyperosmolar state,
with or without ketosis, neonates, critically
ill patients, or for diagnosis or screening
of diabetes. Review all product information
before use or contact Abbott Toll Free
(855-632-8658) or visit www.freestylelibre.
us for detailed indications for use and safety
information.
Courtesy BPT
/cgm-experience
/cgm-experience
/www.freestylelibre
