Breakthrough NICE Recommendations Offer New Hope for Diabetes Management
In a significant advancement for diabetes care, over 250,000 individuals with type 1 diabetes across the UK are poised to gain access to cutting-edge technology that promises to transform how they manage their condition. Thanks to updated guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), issued on 31 March 2022, these patients could see their reliance on traditional finger-prick glucose testing reduced by as much as 50%.
For the first time, NICE has endorsed the use of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) devices for both adults and children with type 1 diabetes. This innovative technology provides a continuous flow of glucose readings directly to a smartphone, offering insights into current glucose levels, trends over time, and predictive alerts to help users proactively manage their glucose levels.
Simultaneously, the recommendations have broadened the availability of intermittently scanned glucose monitoring (isCGM) devices, also known as flash monitoring, to the entire type 1 diabetes community. This expansion empowers patients, in consultation with their healthcare team, to choose the monitoring solution that best suits their needs and lifestyle.
The rtCGM technology, which involves attaching a sensor to the body, not only tracks glucose levels in real-time but also features vital alerts for potential high or low blood sugar events, enhancing safety and control for the user.
The shift towards these advanced monitoring solutions represents a departure from the previous NICE guidelines, which limited continuous glucose monitoring to specific circumstances and recommended finger-prick testing for others. This change is expected to significantly reduce the need for conventional testing methods, easing the daily burden on individuals with type 1 diabetes.
NHS England has already made significant strides by distributing flash monitoring devices to approximately half of the type 1 diabetes population. Unlike rtCGM systems, flash monitors require manual scanning to retrieve glucose data, and not all offer optional alert features.
In addition to these updates, NICE has also extended the recommendation for flash monitoring to include select adults with type 2 diabetes on insulin therapy, potentially benefiting an additional 193,000 individuals.
Dr Paul Chrisp, Director of the Centre for Guidelines at NICE, highlighted the dual benefits of the new recommendations: improving diabetes management and alleviating the constant concern of nocturnal hypoglycemia attacks through alert systems.
Patients eligible for these technologies are encouraged to consult their diabetes care team for access to these life-changing devices on prescription.
Chris Askew OBE, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, hailed the new guidelines as a milestone in diabetes care. The organization, having long advocated for wider access to glucose monitoring technologies, views these updates as a pivotal shift towards integrating technology into standard diabetes management practices.
While celebrating this progress, there remains a commitment to address existing disparities in technology access. As healthcare systems adapt to implement these guidelines, Diabetes UK pledges to support efforts in ensuring equitable delivery of these essential tools, marking a step forward in enhancing the quality of life for people with diabetes.
