Abbott has won a European CE mark for a blood glucose monitoring system for children that uses a wireless sensor to avoid the need for nightly finger prick tests.

The first-of-its-kind FreeStyle Libre system uses a small sensor that's worn on the back of the upper arm for up to 14 days.

Jared Watkin, senior vice president, diabetes care at Abbott, said: "Children and teens with diabetes and their families have to navigate many challenges in their daily lives as they care for this complex condition. 

"The scientists and engineers at Abbott have made it their life's work to provide the most innovative technology to help people with diabetes improve their diabetes management and ultimately, live happier and healthier lives." 

People with diabetes typically self-monitor their glucose levels by routinely pricking their fingers and using the blood tests to make adjustments to their insulin, diet and activity based on their healthcare professionals' recommendations to help achieve good glycaemic control.

The FreeStyle Libre system has been launched in a number of European countries, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the UK, for use by children aged 4 to 17 years old.

Abbott hopes its main selling point will be the way it overcomes the discomfort, disruption and pain of finger pricking.

Dr Emanuele Bosi, associate professor in the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology at Università Vita-Salute, San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, Italy, said:"The technology in Abbott's FreeStyle Libre is transformative because it changes how self-monitoring has been done for decades - and is proven to be accurate and stable."

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