Adherence
For patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes on basal insulin, using FreeStyle Libre (FSL) continuous glucose monitoring systems reduces overall lifetime healthcare costs and increases quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) compared to self-blood glucose monitoring (SBGM).
If you have type 2 diabetes, take basal insulin, and your blood sugar is not well controlled (HbA1c > 8%), switching from finger-prick testing to a flash glucose monitor (like FreeStyle Libre) is likely to save your healthcare system money and improve your long-term health and quality of life. This is because it helps prevent dangerous low blood sugar events and long-term complications like heart disease or kidney failure, while also being less painful and inconvenient than daily finger pricks.
Compared with SBGM, FSL produced total cost savings of €15,645 and 0.80 additional QALYs per patient, being a dominant alternative compared to SBGM.
Why this rating
Based on a validated microsimulation model (DEDUCE) using real-world evidence (RELIEF study) and expert-validated parameters, though it is a modeling study rather than a direct RCT.
Source
Cost–Utility Analysis of FreeStyle Libre Systems in People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Treatment with Basal Insulin and Poor Glycemic Control in Spain
Mireya Robles-Plaza et al. · Diabetes Therapy · 2025
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →