Landmark study shows Libre technology helps people with Type 2 diabetes on basal insulin improve glucose management – Abbott

Abbott announced results from the FreeDM2 randomized controlled trial (RCT) showing that people using FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology had better glucose outcomes than those using traditional fingersticks. Improvements were achieved through participant-led self-management, guided by real-time CGM insights. Findings were presented at the 19th International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD).

About 63 million people worldwide rely on insulin to manage Type 2 diabetes, but real-world studies show only 18%–30% of those using basal insulin are reaching their HbA1c goals. This gap  contributes to an estimated $217 billion in annual diabetes healthcare costs, indicating millions of people still need support to reach healthy glucose ranges. The FreeDM2 randomized controlled trial was designed to determine whether real-time continuous glucose monitoring can help people using basal insulin improve their glucose management.

Conducted across 24 clinical sites in the U.K. and involving 303 participants, the study compared the effectiveness of CGM with traditional self‑monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in people with Type 2 diabetes using basal insulin.

Significant improvements through self-management
At four months, participants using an Abbott FreeStyle Libre system for continuous glucose monitoring had a significantly greater reduction in HbA1c (0.6%; p<0.001) than the group using traditional finger sticks. They also spent about 2.5 more hours a day (10.4% increase) in a healthy glucose range (70–180 mg/dL). Participants were on basal insulin with either an SGLT2 inhibitor or a GLP‑1 receptor agonist, indicating meaningful benefit even among people already on advanced glucose-lowering therapies.

“This study demonstrates the power of real-time glucose information for people with Type 2 diabetes treated with basal insulin,” said Dr.  Emma Wilmot, associate professor of diabetes and endocrinology at the University of Nottingham School of Medicine in Nottingham, U.K. and co-lead investigator of the FreeDM2 study.

“Even when people with Type 2 diabetes are already receiving advanced therapies, such as SGLT2 inhibitors or GLP‑1 receptor agonists, adding real‑time glucose visibility delivered meaningful improvements. People were able to proactively use the insights CGM provided to adjust their diet, basal insulin and activity to deliver better outcomes,” added Dr. Lala Leelarathna,  associate professor of metabolic medicine at Imperial College London in London, U.K. and co-lead investigator of the FreeDM2 study.

Italian study confirms FreeDM2 findings
A separate interventional study from Italy, also being presented at ATTD, followed 88 adults with Type 2 diabetes using basal insulin in everyday clinical practice with an Abbott FreeStyle Libre system. After 3 months, participants had better average glucose levels, more time in a healthy glucose range, and improved quality of life.

“Across both studies, real‑time glucose visibility gives people the understanding they need to make small, informed adjustments throughout the day,” said Mahmood Kazemi, chief medical officer for Abbott’s diabetes care business. “In the FreeDM2 study, people made these adjustments on their own. Seeing similar patterns in the Italian study reinforces that the value comes from continuous access to glucose information itself, rather than from any single device feature.”

Supporting broader access to CGM
Currently, across Europe and many other regions, CGM reimbursement often focuses on people using multiple daily insulin injections, leaving many on basal insulin without coverage. The evidence from FreeDM2 and Italian studies demonstrates that people with Type 2 diabetes on basal insulin therapy can achieve clinically meaningful improvements through continuous glucose monitoring technology, strengthening the case for broader reimbursement of CGM for this population.

See- Wilmot EG, Ajjan RA, Cheah YS, et al Impact of real-time glucose monitoring using FreeStyle Libre 3 on glycaemia in type 2 diabetes managed with basal insulin plus SGLT2 inhibitor and/or GLP-1 agonist: the FreeDM2 randomised controlled trial protocol. BMJ Open 2025, 15:e090154. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-090154

Giorgino et al. Effectiveness of FreeStyle Libre 2 on glycaemia in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes using basal-only insulin in Italy. Abstract at ATTD conference, 11-14 March 2026, Barcelona, Spain.