Determinants of HbA1c reduction with FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring (FLARE-NL 5)

AIMS: To identify factors predicting HbA1c reduction in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) using FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring (FSL-FGM). METHODS: Data from a 12-month prospective nation-wide FSL registry were used and analysed with multivariable regression. For the present study we included patients with hypoglycaemia unawareness or unexpected hypoglycaemias (n = 566) and persons who did not reach acceptable glycaemic control (HbA1c > 70 mmol/mol (8.5%)) (n = 294). People with other indications for use, such as sensation loss of the fingers or individuals already using FSL-FGM or rtCGM, were excluded (37%). RESULTS: Eight hundred and sixty persons (55% male with a mean age of 46.7 (±16.4) years) were included. Baseline HbA1c was 65.1 (±14.5) mmol/mol (8.1 ± 1.3%), 75% of the patients had type 1 DM and 37% had microvascular complications. Data concerning HbA1c was present for 482 (56.0%) at 6 months and 423 (49.2%) persons at 12 months. A significant reduction in HbA1c (≥5 mmol/mol (0.5%)) was present in 187 (22%) persons. For these persons, median HbA1c reduction was −9.0 [−13.0, −4.0] mmol/mol (−0.82 [−1.19, −0.37]%) at 6 months and −9.0 [−15.0, −7.0] mmol/mol (−0.82 [−1.37, −0.64]%) at 12 months. In multivariable regression analysis with age, gender and SF-12 physical and mental component scores as covariates, only baseline HbA1c was significant: −0.319 (SE 0.025; p < 0.001; R(2) = 0.240 for the model). In exploratory analysis among subgroups with different indications for FSL-FGM use (hypoglycaemia unawareness or persistently high HbA1c) and persons with a significant HbA1c decrease over the study period, baseline HbA1c remained the only significant predictor. CONCLUSIONS: Among the variables we analysed in the present study, only high HbA1c at baseline predicts significant HbA1c reduction during FSL-CGM use.