Abbott, a global, broad-based health care company, has launched new FreeStyle InsuLinx Blood Glucose Monitoring System in Canada. This system is now available in diabetes centres and select pharmacies across Canada is the first blood glucose monitoring device in North America that offers a mealtime insulin calculator for calculating suggested insulin doses.

The FreeStyle InsuLinx System is designed to offer suggested insulin doses, as well as other features specifically intended to assist insulin-using patients in more effectively managing their diabetes. The user-friendly features include a touch screen interface, automated logbook, personalization preferences, and USB connectivity for plug-and-play reports.

More than three million Canadians are living with diabetes2 and many of them require insulin to manage their condition. For those who use insulin, managing diabetes can often involve challenging calculations to determine an appropriate mealtime insulin dose. In a diabetes survey conducted in October 2011 by Leger Marketing, 200 Canadian healthcare professionals -- including general practitioners, diabetes nurse educators and endocrinologists -- stated that, in their respective clinics, four in ten mealtime insulin-using patients had difficulty calculating a mealtime insulin dose.3 Virtually all health care professionals (HCPs) surveyed (97%) believe that a patient's inability to manage insulin therapy limits the intensity and complexity of the therapy that an HCP can prescribe or recommend.

“Insulin is a very important medication in the management of diabetes. While one of the most understood drugs available, if insulin is not dosed properly it can lead to serious consequences, most specifically hypoglycaemia. Fear of hypoglycaemia leads to hesitancy to follow suggested insulin dose adjustments for both patients and health care providers,” said Lori Berard, RN CDE Nurse Manager at the Health Sciences Centre Diabetes Research Group Clinical Research Programme, affiliated with the University of Manitoba.

“Some health care professionals are reluctant to prescribe insulin and/or intensify treatment as they are concerned that errors may occur when their patients are self adjusting their insulin. For people living with diabetes, they are often hesitant to self adjust. It is encouraging that a product is available that may potentially assist some patients in their diabetes management. This could provide additional confidence for providers around proper insulin dosing to ensure patients are receiving the most effective therapy for their individual needs,” said Berard.

The FreeStyle InsuLinx System is the newest addition to Abbott's portfolio of glucose monitoring products and is designed for people with diabetes who use mealtime (rapid-acting) insulin. FreeStyle Auto-Assist software, which is PC- and Mac-compatible, designed to help people with diabetes, health care teams and caregivers manage diabetes with reports, reminders and messages

The FreeStyle InsuLinx Blood Glucose Monitoring System is compatible with the FreeStyle Lite blood glucose test strips with ZipWik tabs5 which are designed to offer easy blood application, resulting in a better blood glucose testing experience for people living with diabetes. Individuals with diabetes who are interested in the FreeStyle InsuLinx System should consult with their healthcare professional. This system is now broadly available at diabetes centres and select pharmacies in Canada.

“We're pleased to introduce the FreeStyle InsuLinx Blood Glucose Monitoring System in Canada in an effort to assist with the day-to-day challenges endured by individuals with diabetes who use insulin,” said Todd Nelson, General Manager, Abbott Diabetes Care Canada. “The FreeStyle InsuLinx Blood Glucose Monitoring System is the first innovative system in North America offering insulin calculation technology and new features specifically designed for insulin-using patients. This is a significant advance for the many patients in Canada who may benefit.”

Abbott Diabetes Care, based in Alameda, California, is a leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing glucose monitoring systems designed to help people better manage their diabetes.

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics.