We are really pleased to announce that following a request to Abbott Diabetes Care from the Diabetes Technology Network, Abbott’s Diabetes Care division have very kindly donated 6500 FreeStyle Libre sensors to be used by NHS Trusts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are two main purposes of this donation.
- To facilitate safe and rapid discharge of insulin treated patients from hospital, allowing remote monitoring of glucose values post discharge in a scenario where we have seen need for rapid changes in insulin doses.
Examples are:
- New diagnosis of type 1 diabetes
- New start of insulin after COVID-19 /Non COVID-19 related medical condition (type 1 or type 2 diabetes)
- Discharge of patients admitted with unstable diabetes control (due to hyper- or hypoglycaemia (type 1 or type 2 diabetes)
-
To protect patients as well as health care professionals by providing a means of “contactless” glucose monitoring during in hospital stays where frequent glucose monitoring is required.
- For example, to support patients who require frequent glucose monitoring (> 6/ day) such as those on VRII (variable rate insulin infusions). This will depend on local governance and guidance (eg if you already allow those on Libre to use those readings in hospital) and on when additional SMBG should be performed (eg to confirm hypoglycaemia or when there is rapid flux in glucose)
The use of 2 sensors per patient will allow these patients to be followed up remotely, keeping them safe and allowing the team to adjust insulin doses if required. At the end of the 4-week period (2 sensors) those patients who may meet current local guidelines for libre may continue to use sensors. Other patients will need to be transferred to alternate modes of glucose monitoring according to local guidelines.
Sensors only are available, not readers, so the patient must have a compatible IOS or Android mobile phone to work with FreeStyle LibreLink.
ABCD-DTN recommend:
- The patient would have a sensor applied with a diabetes HCP, in the hospital, and be set up with FreeStyle LibreLink and LibreView prior to discharge.
- You may want to provide appropriate training on SMBG also at this time, if the patient is unlikely to meet local guidelines for on-going funding of Freestyle libre (or this can be done at follow up with primary care, community or secondary care teams)
- The patient should be discharged with an additional sensor.
- The patient should be provided with a quick reference guide: ‘Your Guide to the FreeStyle Libre System’
- If appropriate (eg Type 1 diabetes) provide a link to the DTN Flash glucose education page. https://abcd.care/dtn/flash-glucose-monitoring
- A follow up call to be scheduled with the patient post discharge
- At the end of the 4-week period (2 sensors) a decision to continue / discontinue local prescription of Libre sensors will depend on local guidelines. Patients who do not meet local guidelines for ongoing prescription of Freestyle libre will need to be transitioned to SMBG where appropriate.
- We would be grateful if trusts could keep a record of the reason for use and outcome of these sensors for future audit. For trusts participating in the ABCD libre audit – these can be entered on to the audit page under “reason for starting Freestyle libre”, under “other” enter in Covid.
Ordering Process:
- The sensors will be available in increments of 48 or 96, so would cover 24 or 48 patients for one month's use
- They will be on a first come first served basis and you can request further stock, subject to availability.
- The Trust needs to make an individual charitable request to Abbott using the charitable request form.
- E-mail Abbott directly on: abbott.freestylelibre@nhs.net, send signed charitable request form including a diabetes team contact name and delivery point/ department.
- Your request will be reviewed and then you will be e mailed a Charitable Contribution letter to review, sign and return to Abbott : abbott.freestylelibre@nhs.net
- On receipt of the Charitable Contribution letter Abbott will then process the order, subject to stock availability, which will be shipped on a next day delivery service.
- You will be required to confirm delivery receipt with Abbott on abbott.freestylelibre@nhs.net
- Any subsequent stock requests will require a second Charitable Request and Charitable Contribution letter to be signed.
Set Up Process:
The Trust will need to be set up with a LibreView account if one is not in place already.
By providing the contact name on ordering Abbott assumes permission for your local Abbott representative to contact you directly to provide any necessary educational or set up support, the contact details will only be used for this purpose.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Pratik Choudhary Dr Dinesh Nagi
Chair DTN – UK Chair ABCD
