Reduced acute diabetes events after FreeStyle Libre® system initiation in people 65 years or older with type 2 diabetes on intensive insulin therapy in France.

Abstract

Background and aims Older people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) on insulin are at increased risk of hypoglycemia and associated morbidity. Management of T2DM in older people must optimize glycemic control while minimizing risks for hypoglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). In France, the FreeStyle Libre® system (FSL) has been reimbursed since June 2017 for T2DM on intensive insulin therapy. We assessed the impact of starting FSL on hospitalizations for acute diabetes events (ADEs) in people ≥65 years old, with T2DM on intensive insulin therapy. Materials and methods A retrospective study on the French SNDS claims database was conducted on people ≥65 years old with T2DM, treated with MDI or insulin pump and starting FSL between 01/08/2017 to 31/12/2018. The analysis covered claims data for 12 months before, and up to 24 months after FSL initiation. Hospitalizations for severe hypoglycemia (SH), DKA, comas and hyperglycemia were identified using ICD-10 codes. Results We identified 38,312 people with T2DM ≥65 years old on intensive insulin therapy initiating FSL during the selection period. Hospitalizations for ADEs were observed in 1.6% of subjects in the 12 months before FSL initiation, compared to 1.05% after 12 months and 0.96% after 24 months, a 34% and 40% reduction, driven by fewer DKA admissions after 12 months and by fewer SH admissions at 24 months. Conclusions These results indicate that FSL can reduce hospitalization for ADEs in this vulnerable older population of adults aged 65 years and older with T2DM on intensive insulin therapy, in whom optimal glycemic control must be achieved while minimizing risk of hypoglycemia and other ADEs.