This month’s Monday in Motion theme is technology and how it helps/hinders life with diabetes. Last week we asked what’s your most helpful piece of diabetes tech…
This week’s question: What are your biggest pet peeves about available diabetes technology?
Responses: Cost is big. Various people from the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States weighed in on this fact. Many of the people noted that the cost of technology like insulin pumps and/or continuous glucose monitoring systems was either a large out of pocket expense, or simply prohibitive. Of places, such as the UK and some Canadian provinces, that provide government coverage of insulin pumps several said that they felt there were many bureaucratic hurdles to jump before obtaining devices. Siobhan said, “The NHS [National Health Service] puts a lot of hurdles in the way of everything; getting funding for a pump took me almost 18 months as I battled with my doctors to ‘prove’ that I would benefit from one. CGM is funded for some, but it’s rare; and it’s expensive, so most people can’t afford to self fund.” Various people in the UK and Canada reiterated that even with funding they still find they are paying out of pocket for much of the diabetes technology that helps them live better and fuller lives. Jen noted, “Cost, for sure – I find it so frustrating how much I have to spend out of pocket to afford quality diabetes care. I use CGM and LOVE what the technology has done for my management, but hate how much it costs to be able to use.” While Michelle posted that government insurance is the only insurance body that won’t cover the cost of a CGM in the United States, “Medicare in the US refuses to cover a Dexcom although my doctor wants me on it, because even though we continuously work on it, I have a lot of mornings lows and live alone with no one to help me in an emergency. Medicare is the only insurance that refuses coverage, stating that they don’t see enough benefit!”
Another issue brought up by respondents was the differing availability of devices. Anna said her biggest pet peeve was different places had different access to useful technology: “depending on where [yo]u live in the world- rich/large countries get latest and greatest usually.” Others discussed their frustrations waiting for government approval of devices. Alanna noted the limited number of continuous glucose monitoring systems available in Canada. Erin reiterated this, lamenting the length of waiting for diabetes technology to get onto the Canadian market.
Finally, many people discussed issues of design in the comments. Andy talked about how there is very little difference in function from generation to generation of a product; this seems bizarre when compared to the fast rate of change in everyday tech devices such a personal computer or mobile phones. Jaime-Lee noted that she can’t believe that there hasn’t been some advancement that moves beyond having to draw blood for glucose testing. Michelle talked about wishing there was a way to pre-program temporary basals rates on the pump, saying “I wish my pump had multiple temp basal options… For example being able to turn it off for 2 hours and then have another temp basal programmed right after that for a decrease of 20 percent… This would prevent me from having to wake up in the middle of the night so often or having to create a whole new basal program!” While several other individuals commented on the bulkiness (Natasha: “like carrying around a brick”) and general aesthetic (Amy: “I feel as if I could play 1982 Tetris on this bad-boy”) of the devices to be worn around 24/7.
Virtue’s Take: That’s a remarkably accurate description, Amy…
Okay, so those design features bug me too, but my ultimate pet peeve is the cost; not just for myself, but also because I feel like it creates a divide of those that can afford more sophisticated care treatments and those that cannot. There’s evidence that continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy offers greater control over blood glucose levels and more in range A1c results, thereby increasing the potential for better quality of life. To me, there’s nothing really fair about that kind of divide.
So, what’s your biggest diabetes tech pet peeve?
