The Promise of Diabetes Technology in Population Health Management

Authors

Kara Hawkins, MD, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow

Document Type

Presentation

Presentation Date

11-15-2024

Comments

Presentation: 1:04:16

Abstract

The last decade has been an exciting time for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) therapy options, with advances in pharmaceuticals, such as long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA), dual GLP1-RA and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) agonists, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Similarly, glucose monitoring and insulin delivery systems have advanced with cellular- and Bluetooth-connected meters, more accurate continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, smart insulin pens, and insulin pumps that communicate with CGM to automate insulin delivery. For people with diabetes (PWD) to benefit the most from such technology and for society to see a return on investment (ROI) on these advances, a different approach to healthcare delivery and financing is needed. Among individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and T2DM treated with intensive and non-intensive therapies “a significant association is found between CGM use and reductions in both HbA1c and DM-related hospitalizations” (Hirsh and Miller, 2021). While there is an increasing recognition of the benefits of CGM, its use poses additional challenges to medical practices: selection of patients for CGM, which product to prescribe, payer aspects, procurement through pharmacies and durable medical equipment companies, and management of the data. The following review will explore how population health management programs using CGM can help advance the “Quintuple Aim of improving population health, enhancing the care experience, reducing costs, addressing clinician burnout, and advancing health equity” (Nundy et al, 2022).

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Language

English