Diabetes stays one of many nation’s most prevalent and harmful persistent situations, affecting practically 15% of American adults and inflicting greater than 100,000 deaths every year. In response, the panorama of medical units designed to assist handle the situation is evolving quicker than ever earlier than.

Following this pattern, Abbott final week unveiled the most recent replace to its FreeStyle Libre line of steady glucose monitoring merchandise. The medical system big launched the FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor, which the corporate says is the smallest and most discreet sensor available on the market.

The spherical system — concerning the measurement of two stacked pennies — is positioned simply beneath the pores and skin on the again of the higher arm to measure a affected person’s glucose ranges as they go about their every day lives. The sensor sends the affected person’s glucose information to their cell app and/or handheld reader each 60 seconds and might be worn for as much as 15 days.

The sensor can be accessible at U.S. pharmacies and medical system suppliers inside months, an Abbott spokesperson wrote in an e mail.

“As a result of steady glucose screens are wearable units, it is vital that individuals really feel just like the sensor will not be disrupting their every day lives. With the Libre 3 system, Abbott has created a sensor that’s as discreet as attainable: it’s a quarter of the scale of different body-worn sensors at the moment available on the market,” the spokesperson wrote.

In accordance with the corporate, the sensor's discreet design units it aside from different sensors available on the market, akin to these from Medtronic, Dexcom and Roche.

The brand new system can be designed for future compatibility with automated insulin supply methods (AIDs). Often known as synthetic pancreas methods, these methods mix steady glucose monitoring with insulin pump know-how to robotically ship insulin when wanted.

First launched in 2016, AID methods assist individuals with diabetes keep optimum management of their blood glucose ranges and scale back the non-public burden of illness administration. Firms that make these units embrace Medtronic, Tandem Diabetes Care and Insulet.

By launching this new system and saying plans for future AID integrations, Abbott is additional demonstrating its dedication to innovation throughout its diabetes portfolio. Lower than a 12 months in the past, the corporate acquired Bigfoot Biomedical, which makes a “sensible” insulin pen cap that collects information from a affected person’s steady glucose monitor to assist them calculate the proper dose.

Throughout a name with buyers in January, Abbott CEO Robert Ford identified that the corporate noticed $5.3 billion in FreeStyle Libre gross sales in 2023, representing 24% development within the fourth quarter alone.

“When it comes to income, Libre has turn out to be probably the most profitable medical system in historical past, outpacing market development in 13 of the final 16 quarters,” Ford mentioned on the decision.

Picture: Abbott