NHS patients in England with type 1 diabetes are now eligible for a free continuous glucose monitor (CGM) after the health service secured a new ‘cost-effective’ deal.
Earlier this year, the NHS announced it would rollout CGM technology to everyone living with type 1 diabetes as part of its ‘Long Term Plan’ to deliver world-class healthcare.
Now a deal between the National Health Service and manufacturer DEXCOM means a CGM called the Dexcom ONE Real Time-Continuous Glucose Monitoring will soon be available on prescription to patients with type 1 diabetes.
- What is a CGM? Our guide to the tech that means no more finger pricks
Dr Partha Kar, national speciality advisor for diabetes and obesity said: “This is a huge step forward for Type 1 diabetes care and these monitors will be life-changing for anyone with the illness – giving them more choice to manage their condition in the most convenient way possible – as well as the best chance at living healthier lives, reducing their risk of hospitalisation and illnesses associated with diabetes, which in turn reduces pressure on wider NHS services.”
The Dexcom sensor is no bigger than a bottle cap, connects to your smartphone device, and will provide real-time glucose monitoring for a maximum of ten days once affixed to the patient’s arm.
When it comes to managing glucose levels and preventing spikes in blood sugar, being able to monitor blood glucose levels constantly can make all the difference for people with type 1 diabetes.
In type 1 diabetes, the body’s ability to produce the hormone insulin is inhibited. Without insulin, blood glucose levels cannot be regulated, leading to extra glucose in the bloodstream that damages the body’s nerves and organs, causing other potentially fatal diabetic complications.
With a CGM, someone with type 1 diabetes can track their glucose levels dynamically, adjusting their insulin doses and other treatments as necessary.
The CGM will be prescribed either by the patient’s GP surgery or hospital and comes in a starter pack including all the components – a sensor, transmitter and product information – required to start measuring blood glucose on the go.
Afterwards, patients will be able to get repeat prescriptions at a pharmacy.
Karen Baxter, Vice President, UK & Ireland, Benelux, France and Spain at Dexcom: “The addition of Dexcom ONE to the NHS England drug tariff is enormous progress towards improving the choice of diabetes tech, providing an alternative to burdensome finger pricks and scanning.
“We are incredibly proud of the diabetes community and are working hard to make it easier for them to access the best technology possible to manage their diabetes. As a next step, we will be working closely with healthcare professionals to ensure the diabetes community can benefit as quickly as possible from reimbursement and the wider availability of Dexcom CGM,” Baxter concluded.
Find out what members of the Diabetes Community are saying about CGM sensors over on the blood glucose monitoring forum.
