A new study released by the American Diabetes Association® (ADA), illustrates the significant barriers that low-income Americans, people of color, older Americans, and people with diabetes living in states with the highest prevalence of the disease face in accessing continuous glucose monitors (CGM). These barriers are especially high for Americans on Medicaid, who are the least likely to have access to a CGM. CGMs continually monitor blood glucose (blood sugar), giving real-time updates. The devices provide significant, potentially life-changing benefits for diabetes management, and in turn for the avoidance or delay of serious co-morbidities, hospitalizations, and even death.
“It is disappointing to see that access to vital diabetes management tools like CGMs often depends on your income, the color of your skin, your age, and where you live,” said Dr. Robert Gabbay, chief scientific and medical officer at the ADA. "The ADA is committed to addressing access barriers—such as inadequate health insurance coverage, steep Medicare and Medicaid coverage requirements, and physician shortages—to ensure that everyone who can benefit from a CGM can get one.”
The ADA is working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, state Medicaid programs, and Congress to eliminate barriers people face in accessing diabetes technology like CGMs. The CGM study is available on the ADA’s website.
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About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For 81 years the ADA has driven discovery and research to treat, manage, and prevent diabetes while working relentlessly for a cure. Through advocacy, program development, and education we aim to improve the quality of life for the over 133 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociación Americana de la Diabetes), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).