- Abbott and Shepherd aim to raise awareness of the rising rates
of diabetes diagnoses and how access to continuous glucose
monitoring (CGM) systems can reduce diabetes-related
complications1, provide better health outcomes, and
improve quality of living2
- Television host and diabetes advocate Sherri Shepherd unveils one-of-a-kind animated
installation at the Oculus Center in New
York City featuring herself alongside the faces and stories
of people like her who are thriving despite their diagnosis
- Every visit to www.Crossroads.Abbott during November's National
Diabetes Awareness Month will trigger an automatic donation* to the
American Diabetes Association's Health Equity Now program, which
helps educate people on the benefits of diabetes devices and
technology
ABBOTT
PARK, Ill., Nov. 1, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced 'Countdown at a
Crossroads,' which kicks off National Diabetes Awareness Month by
taking over the Oculus Center in New York
City – the literal "Crossroads of the World" – with an
animated installation that features the faces and stories of people
impacted by diabetes, including comedian and talk show host
Sherri Shepherd.
"Using a FreeStyle Libre sensor to monitor my glucose levels has
helped me get a better grasp on my Type 2 diabetes and ultimately
improve my quality of living," said television host and diabetes
advocate Sherri Shepherd. "Many
people living with diabetes aren't aware of this incredible
life-changing technology and Abbott's efforts to make it
accessible. The goal of 'Countdown at a Crossroads' is to change
that – and I am energized to help by fostering awareness."
The World is at a Diabetes Crossroads
There are more than half a billion adults across the world
living with diabetes and this number is only predicted to
rise1. Yet only 1% of them are using technology
like FreeStyle Libre, a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)
system3, signifying that they are not aware of or do not
have access to this technology.
CGM technology provides real-time data to help a person see how
food, activity and medicine can have an impact on their glucose
levels, with the additional benefit of improving their health by
reducing their hemoglobin A1C4. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lowering your A1C can
lower a person's risk of complications from diabetes such as nerve
damage, eye problems and heart disease.
More people are using medications like GLP-1s to improve their
glycemic control or help with weight loss. In a newly
published analysis from Abbott, data has shown that these drugs can
work better with CGMs by not only providing weight loss but also
helping people living with diabetes create positive, long-term
behavior changes to assist in managing their condition.
Making Critical Diabetes Technology More Accessible
Abbott has taken steps at every stage of the design process to
make FreeStyle Libre systems the most cost-efficient. Priced at 70%
less than other CGM systems, FreeStyle Libre is the most
affordable5 option for the one in 10
Americans6 who are living with
diabetes.
"We purposefully made FreeStyle Libre technology to be
accessible and affordable," said Jared
Watkin, senior vice president of Abbott's diabetes care
business. "However, even with our millions of users, we know that
continuous glucose monitors are still not being used by the vast
majority of people who can benefit from them. We're working
hard to spread awareness and improve access, and we hope that our
critical innovation can play a part in slowing the diabetes
epidemic."
CGMs have become the standard of care for people with Type 1
diabetes, yet up to 95% of people living with diabetes in America
have Type 2 diabetes7, where approximately less than 10%
of people use CGM technology8 – either because they are
not aware or do not have insurance coverage. In several studies,
CGMs have been proven to help people living with Type 2 diabetes
significantly reduce diabetes-related hospitalizations while also
enabling them to control their diabetes without adding insulin
therapy to their treatment routine9.
Abbott will continue to work with health systems, payors and
government agencies in the U.S. and around the world to expand
reimbursement for CGMs so that all people living with diabetes can
get access.
Countdown at a Crossroads
Mirroring the staggering reality that a new person is diagnosed
with diabetes every 23 seconds in the
United States6, the Crossroads structure on
display at the Oculus Center in New York
City on Nov. 1 will generate a
different face of someone impacted by diabetes every 23 seconds.
Additionally, visitors can scan a QR code featured on the
installation or visit www.Crossroads.Abbott to learn more about
diabetes, the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring technology,
and read personal stories of patients positively impacted by
FreeStyle Libre's transformative technology.
With a mere 1% of those globally living with diabetes utilizing
CGMs to manage their condition3, Abbott is recognizing
the other 99% who could benefit from this vital tool. For
every person who visits www.Crossroads.Abbott during November's
National Diabetes Awareness Month, a $0.99 donation* will be provided to the American
Diabetes Association's Health Equity Now program.
"Our ongoing partnership with Abbott underscores the importance
of making diabetes care and management accessible," said Charles
"Chuck" Henderson, chief executive
officer of the American Diabetes Association. "We appreciate
Abbott's support to increase awareness of health disparities and
implement consumer access solutions during this critical time in
the diabetes community. It takes all of us working together to end
diabetes."
To learn more about 'Countdown at a Crossroads,' visit
www.Crossroads.Abbott and follow Abbott on Facebook, Twitter and
Instagram.
The FreeStyle Libre portfolio is the number one sensor-based
glucose monitoring system in the world10 changing the
lives of more than 5 million people across more than 60
countries8 by providing breakthrough technology that is
accessible and affordable5.
About Abbott
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more
fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing
technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading
businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices,
nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues
serve people in more than 160 countries.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on LinkedIn
at www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-, on Facebook
at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews.
Important Safety Information – FreeStyle Libre 14 day,
FreeStyle Libre 2 and FreeStyle Libre 3 systems
Failure to use FreeStyle Libre systems as instructed in labeling
may result in missing a severe low or high glucose event and/or
making a treatment decision, resulting in injury. If glucose
reading and alarms (if enabled) do not match symptoms or
expectations, use a fingerstick value from a blood glucose meter
for treatment decisions. Seek medical attention when appropriate or
contact Abbott at 855-632-8658 or FreeStyleLibre.us for safety
info.
FreeStyle Libre Customer Service
People in the U.S. who have questions about the FreeStyle Libre
portfolio can reach out to Abbott's Customer Service toll-free at
855-632-8658. Agents are available seven days a week from
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time,
excluding holidays.
*Abbott will donate $0.99 to the American Diabetes Association's
Health Equity Now program for every unique visit to its Countdown
at a Crossroads website (www.Crossroads.Abbott) from November 1–30,
2023, 11:59:59 PM ET, up to
$100,000.
1 The American Journal of Managed Care, Flash
CGM Associated With Event Reduction in Nonintensive Diabetes
Therapy, 2021.
2 American Diabetes Association, Continuous Glucose
Monitors, accessed 27 Oct. 23.
3 International Diabetes Federation, IDF Diabetes Atlas
10th edition, 2021; Seagrove Partners, Diabetes Bluebook,
August 2023.
4 Diabetes Care, Clinical Targets for Continuous Glucose
Monitoring Data Interpretation: Recommendations From the
International Consensus on Time in Range, 2019.
5 Based on a comparison of list prices of FreeStyle
Libre 14 day, FreeStyle Libre 2 and FreeStyle Libre 3 systems
versus competitors' CGM systems. The actual cost to patients
may or may not be lower than other CGM systems, depending on the
amount covered by insurance, if any. Abbott provides this
information as a courtesy, it is subject to change and
interpretation. The customer is ultimately responsible for
determining the appropriate codes, coverage, and payment policies
for individual patients. Abbott does not guarantee third-party
coverage or payment for our products or reimburse customers for
claims that are denied by third-party payers.
6 American Diabetes Association, Research Is the Key to
Ending Diabetes, 2023; and Centers for Disease Control's National
Diabetes Statistics Report, all accessed 28
Sept. 2023.
7 Centers for Disease Control's National Diabetes
Statistics Report, accessed 28 Sept.
2023.
8 Data on file, Abbott Diabetes Care.
9 The American Journal of Managed Care, Flash CGM
Associated With Event Reduction in Nonintensive Diabetes Therapy,
2021; and New Late-Breaking Data Show Use of Abbott's FreeStyle®
Libre System Significantly Reduces HbA1C Levels in People with Type
2 Diabetes Using Insulin or Not, Jun 13,
2020.
10 Data based on the number of users worldwide for
FreeStyle Libre family of personal CGMs compared to the number of
users for other leading personal CGM brands and based on CGM sales
dollars compared to other leading personal CGM brands.
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