Cost-effective procurement and prescribing of continuous glucose monitors in the NHS

As the global incidence of diabetes and its associated treatment costs rise, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) constitute a valuable tool for patient self-monitoring. However, market dominance of a few well-known brands, predominantly in populations with type 1 diabetes, limits the adoption of more cost-effective alternatives that might offer improved clinical outcomes. To address this, an expert roundtable evaluated barriers to efficient CGM use, identifying challenges such as regional care board variations, lack of patient-centred prescribing and insufficient training for both patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs). The panel suggested implementing more individualised prescribing, such as accessible readers for elderly patients, and expanding HCP education. Moreover, more streamlined integration of CGM data into electronic health records would reduce admin burden, while helping to facilitate remote monitoring to encourage patient self-management. Individualised CGM prescription, alongside improved workflows for HCPs around prescribing and addressing patient queries, could significantly lower healthcare costs while improving diabetes care in the UK.