How to Get Diabetics Addicted to Data
Users of a new type of glucose meter scanned themselves as many as 45 times a day.
The FreeStyle Libre.
Source: Abbott LaboratoriesThis article is for subscribers only.
When Abbott Laboratories rolled out a device in Europe to help diabetics measure their glucose levels without having to prick a finger, it included a novel ask for patients: Would they allow the company to collect their data to help guide care? The company never imagined it would be sparking an information obsession.
More than 50,000 people who used the FreeStyle Libre from 2014 to 2016 granted the company access, yielding 409 million data points. The results provide an unparalleled glimpse into the ebb and flow of testing in a group of people whose lives—and limbs—depend on their efforts.