Abbott's Libre CGM Shows Significant Glucose Management Gains for Type 2 Diabetes Patients on Basal Insulin

Event summary

  • Abbott's FreeStyle Libre CGM technology reduced HbA1c levels by 0.6% and increased time in healthy glucose range by 2.5 hours daily for Type 2 diabetes patients on basal insulin compared to traditional fingersticks.
  • The FreeDM2 randomized controlled trial involved 303 participants across 24 clinical sites in the U.K.
  • An additional Italian study with 88 participants confirmed similar improvements in glucose management and quality of life.
  • Only 18%-30% of Type 2 diabetes patients on basal insulin currently meet HbA1c targets, contributing to $217 billion in annual healthcare costs.
  • Results were presented at the 19th International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) in March 2026.

The big picture

The study results position Abbott to challenge current reimbursement paradigms for CGM technology, potentially unlocking a massive market of basal insulin users who represent a significant portion of the $217 billion annual diabetes healthcare cost burden. This comes as CGM technology continues to evolve from niche diabetes management tool to mainstream chronic disease management solution. The findings also highlight the growing importance of real-time data in enabling patient self-management of chronic conditions.

What we're watching

Reimbursement Expansion
Whether the study results will accelerate CGM reimbursement for basal insulin users beyond current multiple daily injection focus.
Market Penetration
The pace at which Abbott can convert the 63 million insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetes patients to Libre technology.
Competitive Response
How competitors like Dexcom and Medtronic will react to Abbott's strengthened position in the CGM market.