Patients with type 1 diabetes will now have access to continuous glucose monitors after NHS England secured a new cut-price deal with manufacturers Dexcom, the organisation has announced. The arrangement means the devices will now be available on the NHS for a similar price to traditional flash monitors, such as finger prick tests. 

The monitor, named Dexcom One Real Time-Continuous Glucose Monitoring, can be worn on a patient’s arm for up to 10 days and will send information to a mobile app, allowing them to keep track of their glucose levels at all times. 

Once they receive their starter pack from the hospital or GP – containing information about the device, a sensor and a transmitter – patients will be able to visit the pharmacy to pick up their repeat prescription. 

A step forward

The deal is the latest significant advancement in diabetes care for the NHS, who has already surpassed its Long Term Plan goal to ensure that some 20 per cent of people with type 1 diabetes were benefiting from flash monitors by March 2021. In fact, records are showing that three-fifths (60 per cent) of people are now using the technology.

“This is a huge step forward for type 1 diabetes care and these monitors will be life-changing for anyone with the illness,” said Dr Partha Kar, national speciality advisor for diabetes and obesity. It will give 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”.

Continuing progression

“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,” said Karen Baxter, vice president UK and Ireland, Benelux, France and Spain at Dexcom. “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.”

Currently, the NHS spends roughly £10 billion annually on treating diabetes, according to the organisation.

To hear how such advancements in diabetes care have changed real lives and how pharmacy teams can help support all patients with diabetes, listen to our latest Category Insight podcast.