More than 250,000 people living with type 1 diabetes are set to
be offered new technology to help them manage their condition and
at the same time reduce the need for finger prick testing by up
to 50%, following new advice from NICE.
New guidance from NICE has recommended the use of real-time
continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) for adults and children
living with type 1 diabetes for the first time. It will give them
a continuous stream of real-time information on a smartphone
about their current blood glucose level.
Alongside new rtCGM technology, the use of intermittently scanned
glucose monitoring (isCGM) devices – also known as flash
monitoring – has been expanded to the whole of the type 1 patient
population. Patients will now have a choice in picking the
technology which is right for them in discussion with their
diabetes team.
A rtCGM sensor is attached discreetly to the person’s body and
collects the data which is transmitted to their smartphone. The
data provides current and previous glucose levels but also a
prediction of where the levels are headed meaning they can take
action to stabilise their levels if necessary.
The real-time systems also feature active alerts or alarms that
warn users of immediate and/or impending high or low blood sugar.
Research has found both real-time and flash devices help a person
in maintaining optimal blood sugar control.
Until now NICE had only recommended technology for continuous
glucose monitoring for adults with type 1 diabetes in
certain circumstances and capillary blood glucose monitoring
(finger-prick testing) for people who weren’t eligible for the
technology. With the introduction of new technology for everyone
with type 1 diabetes, people will no longer have to monitor their
condition with finger-prick testing as regularly as before.
Instead the technology, calibrated using the person’s blood, will
do that work for them. Experts predict this will reduce by half
the need for finger-prick testing.
NHS England has rolled out NICE recommended flash devices to
around 50% of those with type 1 diabetes.
The flash devices require users to consciously scan a sensor on
their arm to obtain blood sugar data and not all flash monitors
provide optional alarms or alerts.
In other new recommendations:
- NICE has recommended extending the use of flash monitoring to
adults with type 2 diabetes on insulin therapy. This
recommendation makes the technology available to around 193,000
people.
Dr Paul Chrisp, director of the centre for guidelines at
NICE, said: “By recommending the use of either real-time
or flash monitoring, our independent committee has made
recommendations that will be a step forward in helping all people
with type 1 diabetes manage their condition.
“Many people find finger-prick testing to be painful and time
consuming and the introduction of technology for all people
living with type 1 diabetes will reduce this considerably. This
group of people also live with the constant worry of suffering
from an attack brought on by dangerously low blood sugar while
they sleep. Having an alarm which will alert them if this happens
will give them the peace of mind knowing they will wake up in the
morning.”
Eligible patients should speak to their diabetes team to access
real-time or flash monitors on prescription.
Chris Askew OBE, chief executive at Diabetes UK,
said: “These landmark guidelines promise to be
transformational for people living with diabetes. Having
campaigned for many years for wider access to Flash and
continuous glucose monitoring, and contributed to NICE’s
consultation, we are delighted that the voice of people with
diabetes has been heard, and that our calls have been listened
to.
“What we are seeing today is a key shift in thinking – a move to
recognising that technology is an integral part of diabetes
management, not simply an added luxury.
“There is still work to do, and we welcome NICE's commitment to
addressing the inequalities which currently exist in access to
Flash and CGM. Local health systems will need to support
healthcare professionals to deliver these guidelines equitably
and we will play our part too, in helping the NHS to get this
right. But today is about celebrating a clear step towards
ensuring many more people living with all types of diabetes will
have access to the appropriate technology that can help them live
happier and healthier lives.”
ENDS
Notes to editors