The FreeStyle Libre (FSL) flash glucose-monitoring device was made available on the U.K. National Health Service (NHS) drug tariff in 2017. This study aims to explore the U.K. real-world experience of FSL and the impact on glycemic control, hypoglycemia, diabetes-related distress, and hospital admissions. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Clinicians from 102 NHS hospitals in the U.K. submitted FSL user data, collected during routine clinical care, to a secure web-based tool held within the NHS N3 network. The t and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare the baseline and follow-up HbA 1c and other baseline demographic characteristics. Linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of change in HbA 1c following the use of FSL. Within-person variations of HbA 1c were calculated using adjusted SD for HbA 1c 5 SD/√(n/[n 2 1]). RESULTS Data were available for 10,370 FSL users (97% with type 1 diabetes), age 38.0 (618.8) years, 51% female, diabetes duration 16.0 (649.9) years, and BMI of 25.2 (616.5) kg/m 2 (mean [6SD]). FSL users demonstrated a 25.2 mmol/mol change in HbA 1c , reducing from 67.5 (620.9) mmol/mol (8.3%) at baseline to 62.3 (618.5) mmol/mol (7.8%) after 7.5 (interquartile range 3.4-7.8) months of follow-up (n 5 3,182) (P < 0.0001). HbA 1c reduction was greater in those with initial HbA 1c ‡69.5 mmol/mol (>8.5%), reducing from 85.5 (616.1) mmol/mol (10%) to 73.1 (615.8) mmol/mol (8.8%) (P < 0.0001). The baseline Gold score (score for hypoglycemic unawareness) was 2.7 (61.8) and reduced to 2.4 (61.7) (P < 0.0001) at follow-up. A total of 53% of those with a Gold score of ‡4 at baseline had a score <4 at follow-up. FSL use was also associated with a reduction in diabetes distress (P < 0.0001). FSL use was associated with a significant reduction in paramedic callouts and hospital admissions due to hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia/diabetic ketoacidosis. CONCLUSIONS We show that the use of FSL was associated with significantly improved glycemic control and hypoglycemia awareness and a reduction in hospital admissions.

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OBJECTIVE We explored longitudinal changes associated with switching to hybrid closed loop (HCL) insulin delivery systems in adults with type 1 diabetes and elevated HbA1c levels despite the use of intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) and insulin pump therapy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We undertook a pragmatic, preplanned observational study of participants included in the National Health Service England closed loop pilot. Adults using isCGM and insulin pump across 31 diabetes centers in England with an HbA1c ≥8.5% who were willing to commence HCL therapy were included. Outcomes included change in HbA1c, sensor glucometrics, diabetes distress score, Gold score (hypoglycemia awareness), acute event rates, and user opinion of HCL. RESULTS In total, 570 HCL users were included (median age 40 [IQR 29–50] years, 67% female, and 85% White). Mean baseline HbA1c was 9.4 ± 0.9% (78.9 ± 9.1 mmol/mol) with a median follow-up of 5.1 (IQR 3.9–6.6) months. Of 520 users continuing HCL at follow-up, mean adjusted HbA1c reduced by 1.7% (95% CI 1.5, 1.8; P &lt; 0.0001) (18.1 mmol/mol [95% CI 16.6, 19.6]; P &lt; 0.0001). Time in range (70–180 mg/dL) increased from 34.2 to 61.9% (P &lt; 0.001). Individuals with HbA1c of ≤58 mmol/mol rose from 0 to 39.4% (P &lt; 0.0001), and those achieving ≥70% glucose time in range and &lt;4% time below range increased from 0.8 to 28.2% (P &lt; 0.0001). Almost all participants rated HCL therapy as having a positive impact on quality of life (94.7% [540 of 570]). CONCLUSIONS Use of HCL is associated with improvements in HbA1c, time in range, hypoglycemia, and diabetes-related distress and quality of life in people with type 1 diabetes in the real world.

3D printing technology has become a favored alternative in fabricating parts due to its flexibility in product customization. Recently, an abundant number of studies have been conducted to improve the overall quality of the 3D printed parts. One of the essential qualities is to provide mechanical properties that fulfill the functionality of the final product. Thus, providing the best option in tailoring the mechanical properties of 3D printed parts is very useful. This paper investigates the effects of printing parameters on the compression properties of Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) using finite element analysis (FEA). Taguchi's 33 design-of-experiment methods were used to design the experiment for the following printing parameters: shell thickness, type of infill, and infill density. The compressive test was performed using Ansys software and the variables under study were strain and total deformation. The results obtained from the FEA simulation show that the compressive strain and total deformation are mainly influenced by infill density, followed by the type of infill and shell thickness. It is deduced from the study that the optimum printing parameters with higher infill density (70%) and combination with triangular infill pattern are able to hold the structure more rigidly, therefore providing more resistance against deformation. This study proposed a platform for determining the mechanical properties of 3D models for FDM printed parts using FEA analysis.