Continuous Glucose Monitors are Cost Neutral Compared to SMBG

Abstract

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM) has revolutionized the management of diabetes and has become the standard of care for the management of Type 1 diabetes. The primary factor preventing widespread uptake of CGM is cost. Currently there is little provincial coverage for CGM, and many patients still must pay for the technology. The cost of CGM is here evaluated in comparison to standard care (self monitoring of blood glucose), including analysis of cost-savings and improvements in quality of life that could be achieved with the use of CGM. When costs of comorbidities and absenteeism that could be reduced by the use of CGM are included in the analysis, it is determined that CGM is cost-neutral relative to standard care.