New York-based One Drop presented new research about attitudes and adoption of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) among people with type 2 diabetes at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 82nd Scientific Sessions in New Orleans.
Participants in a mixed-method study shared a positive reception and significant interest in CGM, according to a news release. In total, 90% of respondents were familiar with CGM technology, with most being open to adoption. Reasons for openness included valuing regular feedback, relief from blood glucose monitor (BGM) fingersticks, convenience and improved diabetes management.
Still, One Drop said 83% had never tried CGM, with a subset expressing concerns about insurance coverage and costs. Those not open to CGM adoption cited cost as well as a lack of need or familiarity, inconvenience and device user experiences like pain and size as reasons.
The company said it is developing a daily disposable, minimally invasive, biowearable sensor designed to use biometric telemetry to measure glucose and temperature. One Drop believes the integration of its health sensor (once it garners regulatory approval) and existing digital diabetes management platform will provide greater flexibility and insights for those living with diabetes.
“As a full-time CGM user, I firmly believe continuous health sensing technology should be accessible to everyone with diabetes,” One Drop CEO and founder Jeff Dachis said in the release. “What I have found through my personal experience living with diabetes and building an industry-leading medical device and digital health startup is that people can begin to gain control of their health when they have access to actionable health data insights and understand what to do with it. We should be tearing down barriers to tools that help us all live healthier lives.”
The company also presented research linking the cumulative risk of health inequities to platform engagement and attitudes toward One Drop’s digital diabetes management platform among those with type 2 diabetes.
According to the company, there was a significant connection between having a higher cumulative risk for health inequities and higher engagement with One Drop’s educational content and ratings of One Drop’s helpfulness. People with type 2 diabetes demonstrated high interest in CGM because of the desire to see their numbers in real-time and improve their health, although, like the other study, costs and insurance coverage remained concerns.
“At One Drop, we have a unique opportunity to address health inequity in our research,” Senior Outcomes Researcher and study author Steven Imrisek said in a separate release. “The trends that emerged in the present survey study are an encouraging sign that digital health tools like One Drop have the potential to substantially impact underserved populations who may have limited access to healthcare services or experience discrimination due to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and other factors. We intend to continue investing in inclusive and equitable research processes to help ensure those with the greatest need can realize the benefits of our precision health approach.”
