Blog - Diabetes Information, Symptoms & Diagnoses
Do I Qualify for NHS Funding for Dexcom?
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology is changing the way diabetes is managed and treated. Recent updates to national healthcare guidelines1-4 are making CGM systems more accessible to people living with both type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the UK. Those who qualify may be able to get NHS funding for Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Systems. It’s a good idea to understand how funding works and which Dexcom products are available on the NHS so you can make informed decisions about using CGM alongside your healthcare professional (HCP).
Are Dexcom CGM Systems Available on the NHS?
Thanks to new guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), every person living with T1D can get Dexcom ONE on prescription from their general practitioner (GP) or local hospital across most parts of the UK. In England and Northern Ireland, once you have a prescription, you can pick it up from your pharmacy and continue to collect supplies, such as new sensors and transmitters as time goes on.5
NICE guidance recommends that anyone living with T1D should be offered CGM, which may also include the Dexcom G6 CGM System and the Dexcom G7 CGM System. However, you need to check with your HCP about whether you are eligible for NHS funding for these CGM products.
Who Can Access CGM in the UK?
While NICE Guidelines are intended to be adopted across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and SIGN Guidance in Scotland, there are differences in guideline adherence in the four nations and within local areas. No matter where you’re located, you need to speak to your HCP about availability and funding options for Dexcom CGM Systems.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, adults and children are entitled to access CGM on the NHS. However, NICE Guidelines may or may not be adopted by your local healthcare team. This means that while CGM systems are available from the NHS, your HCP ultimately determines whether they will provide a prescription based on their assessment that it’s the right solution for you.8
Generally, CGM may be offered as an option for children and adults who experience frequent hypoglycaemia, don’t often recognize the signs of a hypo, or have anxiety around going low. Children who play sports at a regional level and who have other health conditions such as anorexia or use corticosteroids could also be offered CGM. It may also be recommended for adults who have an HbA1C over 9% (75mmol/mol) even when they perform more than 10 BGM readings a day.7
Scotland
Scotland has recently published SIGN Guidance for continuous glucose monitoring which is expected to be finalised in 2024. This guidance seeks to offer continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to all children and young people with type 1 diabetes, alongside education to support them, their families and carers in using it.6
Healthcare Improvement Scotland and Scottish Health Technologies Group guidance does state that CGM should be offered to all women living with T1D during pregnancy.7
England and Wales
In England and Wales, NICE guidance has been widely implemented and recommends that everyone living with T1D be offered CGM.1,2 CGM should also be offered to all women living with T1D when they get pregnant.3
For children living with T2D, NICE recommends that CGM be offered only if they are not able to use capillary blood glucose monitoring (CBGM) due to disability or another health condition, if they need to test their glucose levels more than 8 times a day, or if they experience frequent hypoglycaemia. CGM should also be considered for children living with T2D who are using insulin therapy.1
NICE guidance (NG28) recommends that CGM should be considered for adults living with T2D if they use insulin therapy and the cost of CGM is equal to or lower than the cost of intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) systems.4
People living with T2D who use insulin therapy may be offered CGM when they get pregnant only if they frequently experience hypoglycaemia or are unable to stabilise their glucose levels.3
Determining Which Dexcom CCM System is Right for You
There are significant differences between each type of diabetes. More than that, everyone experiences the type of diabetes they live with very differently. Determining which Dexcom CGM System is right for you starts with a conversation with your HCP, but it can be helpful to learn a little more about which Dexcom products might suit you best.
Dexcom CGM for Those Living with T1D
Those living with T1D, including children two years and older, can benefit from CGM to help them with their everyday diabetes management. Dexcom ONE, Dexcom G6, and Dexcom G7 are all suitable for those living with T1D.
Dexcom CGM technology allows you to view glucose levels in real time and receive alerts and alarms about your glucose levels to make sure you’re within your target glucose range.9,10 Dexcom G6 also integrates with insulin pumps to create what’s called a hybrid closed-loop system which automates the delivery of basal insulin throughout the day, giving you a little extra peace of mind around glucose management. Dexcom CGM Systems have been clinically proven to lower HbA1C, reduce hyper and hypoglycaemia, and increase time in range (TIR).11–13
NICE guidelines recommend that CGM be offered to women living with T1D who are pregnant.4 It has been shown to significantly decrease risks associated with managing diabetes through pregnancy for both parent and child.14,15,17 CGM is shown to manage glucose control and is effective in pregnancy associated with diabetes.14,16,17
Dexcom CGM for Those Living with T2D
T2D develops over time. It happens when there’s a loss of insulin sensitivity. The body then tries to overcompensate by producing too much insulin, resulting in ‘burnout’ of the pancreas.18
Typically, those living with T2D treat it with lifestyle changes that include eating healthy food and getting more active, especially in the early stages. However, some may also need glucose control medications or insulin to help them manage diabetes.18 Keep in mind that CGM is only recommended by NICE for people living with T2D who are on insulin therapy. However, those who are not using insulin therapy may benefit from CGM as well to look after their glucose levels but may not qualify for NHS funding. Dexcom ONE is a good option as it’s a simple system that provides the powerful benefits of CGM at a lower cost.
Get a Dexcom CGM System
No matter where you’re at in your diabetes journey, Dexcom CGM Systems can help you feel more confident managing your diabetes and help you reach your glucose control goals. Explore which Dexcom CGM System might best support the diabetes management plan you’ve created with your HCP. You can also find out more about how you can access NHS funding for CGM or buy a Dexcom CGM System via the e-store.
This is a sponsored article by DexCom
* For a list of compatible smart devices, please visit www.dexcom.com/compatibility
1 Diabetes (type 1 and type 2) in children and young people: diagnosis and management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG18]. Updated May 11, 2023. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng18/chapter/Recommendations
2 Type 1 diabetes in adults: diagnosis and management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG17]. Updated August 17, 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng17/chapter/Recommendations
3 Diabetes in pregnancy: management from preconception to the postnatal period: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG3]. Updated December 2020. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng3/chapter/Recommendations
4 Type 2 diabetes in adults: management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG28]. Updated June 29, 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28/chapter/Recommendations
5 CGMs available on prescription from August 2022. JDRF. Updated August 2, 2022. https://jdrf.org.uk/news/cgms-available-on-prescription-from-august-2022/
6 Optimising glycaemic control in people with type 1 diabetes. Scottish Health Technologies Group. NHS Scotland. https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/optimising-glycaemic-control-in-people-with-type-1-diabetes-sign-in-devt/glucose-lowering-and-glucose-monitoring-technologies/
7 Can I get a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) on the NHS? JDRF. Updated January 17, 2023. https://jdrf.org.uk/information-support/treatments-technologies/continuous-glucose-monitors/continuous-glucose-monitor-nhs/
8 Getting a free cgm, flash glucose monitor (freestyle libre) or insulin pump on the nhs – who should qualify? Diabetes UK. Updated March 22, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/diabetes-technology/cgm-flash-pump-who-qualifies-on-nhs
9 Beck RW, et al. Effect of continuous glucose monitoring on glycemic control in adults with type 1 diabetes using insulin injections: The DIAMOND randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2017;317(4):371-378. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.19975
10 Welsh JB, et al. Accuracy, Utilization, and Effectiveness Comparisons of Different Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2019;21(3):128-132. doi: 10.1089/dia.2018.0374
11 Forlenza GP, et al. Predictive Low-Glucose Suspend Reduces Hypoglycemia in Adults, Adolescents, and Children With Type 1 Diabetes in an At-Home Randomized Crossover Study: Results of the PROLOG Trial. Diabetes Care. 2018;41(10):2096-2104.
12 Brown SA, et al. Six-Month Randomized, Multicenter Trial of Closed-Loop Control in Type 1 Diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(18):1707-1717.
13 Sherr JL, et al. Safety and Performance of the Omnipod Hybrid Closed-Loop System in Adults, Adolescents, and Children with Type 1 Diabetes Over 5 Days Under Free-Living Conditions. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2020;22(3):174-184.
14 Feig DS, et al. Continuous glucose monitoring in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes (CONCEPTT): a multicentre international randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2017; 390: 2347–2359. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32400-5
15 Persson M, et al. Obstetric and perinatal outcomes in type 1 diabetic pregnancies: A large, population-based study. Diabetes Care. 2009 Nov; 32; 11:2005-9. doi:10.2337/dc09-0656
16 Polsky S et al. Continuous glucose monitor use with and without remote monitoring in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes: A pilot study. PloS One 2020; 15 (4): e0230476.
17 Kristin Castorino, Sarit Polsky, Grenye O'Malley, Camilla Levister, Kristen Nelson, Christian Farfan, Scott Brackett, Sarah Puhr, and Carol J. Levy. Performance of the Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System in Pregnant Women with Diabetes.
Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics. Dec 2020.943-947.http://doi.org/10.1089/dia.2020.0085
18 Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes UK. Accessed May 11, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/types-of-diabetes/type-2
1 Diabetes (type 1 and type 2) in children and young people: diagnosis and management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG18]. Updated May 11, 2023. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng18/chapter/Recommendations
2 Type 1 diabetes in adults: diagnosis and management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG17]. Updated August 17, 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng17/chapter/Recommendations
3 Diabetes in pregnancy: management from preconception to the postnatal period: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG3]. Updated December 2020. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng3/chapter/Recommendations
4 Type 2 diabetes in adults: management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG28]. Updated June 29, 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28/chapter/Recommendations
5 CGMs available on prescription from August 2022. JDRF. Updated August 2, 2022. https://jdrf.org.uk/news/cgms-available-on-prescription-from-august-2022/
6 Optimising glycaemic control in people with type 1 diabetes. Scottish Health Technologies Group. NHS Scotland. https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/optimising-glycaemic-control-in-people-with-type-1-diabetes-sign-in-devt/glucose-lowering-and-glucose-monitoring-technologies/
7 Can I get a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) on the NHS? JDRF. Updated January 17, 2023. https://jdrf.org.uk/information-support/treatments-technologies/continuous-glucose-monitors/continuous-glucose-monitor-nhs/
8 Getting a free cgm, flash glucose monitor (freestyle libre) or insulin pump on the nhs – who should qualify? Diabetes UK. Updated March 22, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/diabetes-technology/cgm-flash-pump-who-qualifies-on-nhs
9 Beck RW, et al. Effect of continuous glucose monitoring on glycemic control in adults with type 1 diabetes using insulin injections: The DIAMOND randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2017;317(4):371-378. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.19975
10 Welsh JB, et al. Accuracy, Utilization, and Effectiveness Comparisons of Different Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2019;21(3):128-132. doi: 10.1089/dia.2018.0374
11 Forlenza GP, et al. Predictive Low-Glucose Suspend Reduces Hypoglycemia in Adults, Adolescents, and Children With Type 1 Diabetes in an At-Home Randomized Crossover Study: Results of the PROLOG Trial. Diabetes Care. 2018;41(10):2096-2104.
12 Brown SA, et al. Six-Month Randomized, Multicenter Trial of Closed-Loop Control in Type 1 Diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(18):1707-1717.
13 Sherr JL, et al. Safety and Performance of the Omnipod Hybrid Closed-Loop System in Adults, Adolescents, and Children with Type 1 Diabetes Over 5 Days Under Free-Living Conditions. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2020;22(3):174-184.
14 Feig DS, et al. Continuous glucose monitoring in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes (CONCEPTT): a multicentre international randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2017; 390: 2347–2359. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32400-5
15 Persson M, et al. Obstetric and perinatal outcomes in type 1 diabetic pregnancies: A large, population-based study. Diabetes Care. 2009 Nov; 32; 11:2005-9. doi:10.2337/dc09-0656
16 Polsky S et al. Continuous glucose monitor use with and without remote monitoring in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes: A pilot study. PloS One 2020; 15 (4): e0230476.
17 Kristin Castorino, Sarit Polsky, Grenye O'Malley, Camilla Levister, Kristen Nelson, Christian Farfan, Scott Brackett, Sarah Puhr, and Carol J. Levy. Performance of the Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System in Pregnant Women with Diabetes.
Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics. Dec 2020.943-947.http://doi.org/10.1089/dia.2020.0085
18 Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes UK. Accessed May 11, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/types-of-diabetes/type-2