COVID-19 Impact on Continuous Glucose Monitors

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Living through a global pandemic has been hard for all of us and everyone has a story to tell about their own experience. Some of us have lost loved ones, others have lost jobs and many have dealt with both. This has been difficult and there doesn’t seem to be a clear end in sight. Combine living through a global pandemic with a chronic illness or disease and the stress level increases exponentially. Coping with empty shelves of toilet paper, paper towels and hand sanitizer is worrisome enough, but those living with a chronic condition have to worry about shortages in medicine and supplies, missed appointments and delays in treatment which could be a matter of life or death.

Covid-19 has forced the healthcare profession to reassess standard protocol and procedures and adjust them to work in our changed world. One area that has been impacted significantly is Diabetes Management and the use of Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM) as part of the process. Continuous Glucose Monitors have been an effective way to monitor Type 1 and Type II Diabetes since the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first one over 20 years ago. However, the need for CGMs during a pandemic has caused the use of them to increase dramatically. “The demand for Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM) is rising. The global CGM market was valued at $3.3 billion in 2019 prior to the pandemic. The growth of the CGM market is expected to reach mid-double digits in 2020.” 1

Why COVID-19 has caused an increased need for Continuous Glucose Monitors

At the beginning of the outbreak, hospitals and medical professionals needed to minimize the contact between patients and staff to reduce risk. In hospitals specifically, patients with Continuous Glucose Monitors helped medical staff reduce risk by limiting contact. Continuous Glucose Monitors allow glucose levels to be monitored via a small electrode under the skin that is transmitted electronically to a separate device. CGMs reduce the numbers of fingersticks needed to obtain patient results and help to avoid unnecessary contact. Limiting patient contact also helps to reduce the use of valuable medical resources, like surgical gloves, masks and time to attend to other patients in need.

Diabetes patients at home benefit from Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems because they allow for 24/7 monitoring. With a quick scan, healthcare professionals in any setting can retrieve real time glucose levels, historical trends and alerts when levels become too high or too low. This information can be shared with healthcare professionals to aid in treatment advice and reduce the need for face-to-face appointments. Most Continuous Glucose Monitors, like the FreeStyle Libre, also have downloadable apps that provide data anytime and anywhere. The data can also be shared with loved ones and caregivers who can receive alerts and updates to help patients stay safe. The increased use of telemedicine and virtual appointments combined with the technological advances of Continuous Glucose Monitors have made living with Diabetes during Covid-19 more manageable and safer for those who are high risk.

Rising Popularity of Continuous Glucose Monitors

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems have proven to be effective during a global pandemic and as a result “the FDA issued a nonobjection to in-hospital use of CGM during the Covid-19 pandemic, and along with many other changes and adjustments that were made during the pandemic, these systems have been used in hospitals to remotely monitor glucose levels.”2 This approval has increased demand and created opportunities for the makers of Continuous Glucose Monitoring systems to continue to improve the lives of patient’s living with Diabetes.

One company that has stepped up to the challenge of this growing demand, is Abbott, the maker of the FreeStyle Libre. “The #1 sensor-based glucose monitoring system used worldwide. In partnership with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), Insulin for Life USA and Diabetes Disaster Response Coalition, Abbott donated 25,000 FreeStyle Libre 14 day sensors to U.S. hospitals and medical centers in outbreak hotspots to help accelerate access to technology. Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre portfolio has changed the lives of more than 2 million people across 46 countries by providing breakthrough technology that is accessible and affordable. It is priced at one-third of other Continuous Glucose Monitoring systems available today. Abbott has also secured partial or full reimbursement for the FreeStyle Libre system in 36 countries, including Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.”3 The increasing awareness of the device along with the quick response of device manufacturers have helped Continuous Glucose Monitors get the attention they deserve.

Where to find Continuous Glucose Monitoring services – Who we are?

Managing Diabetes at any time is not easy but keeping it under control during a pandemic can feel almost impossible. Maintaining glucose levels, controlling diet and reducing stress – all which can wreak havoc on Diabetes Management – are not easy to control during difficult times. Quest Health Solutions is here to help!

Our staff has over 20 years of experience with this and similar products. We strive to be a one-stop shop for all CGM needs. We also offer free, CGM Fulfillment Solutions to Diabetic Care Specialists and take great pride in providing the tools, supplies, services and knowledge to educate patients and healthcare professionals. As one of the leading suppliers of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems, Quest Health Solutions is here to provide you with the facts you need to make the right decision. For more information, contact us at 1-877-888-7050 Ext. 1011 or email ben@questhealthsolutions.com .