In 2017 Diabetes UK spoke to around 9,000 people about what would help them to live well in the future with diabetes. Access to technologies was one of the highest priorities.
There is international recognition that people using diabetes technology are more likely to achieve optimal glucose levels, so ensuring uptake and support for patients and professionals to access these technologies is key.
Below you will find useful resources and tools to help you optimise uptake and use of various diabetes technologies.
Diabetes technology pathway (PDF, 832KB)
Consensus statement for the use of technology in Type 1 diabetes (PDF, 431KB)
Flash Glucose Monitoring
From 1 April 2019, CCGs who prescribe Flash Glucose Monitoring (Flash GM) devices for patients that satisfy a specific set of criteria will be reimbursed by NHS England. This will bring an end to the extensive variation in Flash GM prescribing across the UK and is an important step forward in ensuring that the technology is available to all people living with diabetes who could benefit from it.
Use these resources and tools to help you confidently prescribe Flash GM and support patients using it.
Prescribing criteria for Flash GM
More resources
ABCD and the Diabetes Technology Network Freestyle Libre Education Programme
Primary Care Diabetes Society module on glucose monitoring
ABCD nationwide Freestyle Libre Audit
Insulin Pump Therapy (CSII)
Insulin pump therapy has a key role to play in managing Type 1 diabetes. It is not only associated with an improved quality of life in general, but also with improved glycaemic control and a reduction in severe hypoglycaemia. Despite this, variation in provision remains high.
Below are a number of helpful resources to help you make the best decisions about insulin pump provision.
See also our Technology Pathway for people with Type 1 diabetes.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)
Continuous Glucose Monitoring can alert individuals when their blood glucose levels are going high or low and clinical evidence suggests that’s this has resulted in improved glycaemic control and a reduction in severe hypoglycaemia.
Here are a number of helpful tools and resources to support the provision of CGM.
NICE CGM guidance
NICE has published guidance and quality standards surrounding the use and prescribing of CGM.
Quality standard on CGM for Type 1 diabetes
More NICE guidance
NICE has a number of guidelines surrounding the use of CGM for different patient groups. This link provides information about where to go to find these guidelines.
From 1st April 2019 CGM devices are added to the National tariff for high cost devices and listed procedures (2019/20). This effectively means that clinical teams or CCGs can now commission CGM usage from their diabetes budgets as they do insulin pumps. If CCGs have an insulin pump budget they should look at using this more flexibly across diabetes technology. Our Diabetes Technology Pathway could support this work.
DIY Closed Loop system
Increasing numbers of people are creating their own DIY closed loop systems for blood glucose monitoring and insulin delivery which are sometimes called an artificial pancreas. Read our position statement about closed loop systems.
