Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsContinuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)Insulin PumpGlucometersInsulin PensSmartphone AppsTelemedicineOnline CommunitiesFAQs
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)
Insulin Pump
Glucometers
Insulin Pens
Smartphone Apps
Telemedicine
Online Communities
FAQs
Technology can help better control blood sugar and simplify managingtype 2 diabetes. This article discusses some of the best ways to use technology for diabetes.
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Continuous glucose monitoring(CGM) is wearable technology used to monitorglucose levelsat all times. A sensor is placed beneath the arm’s or belly’s skin and reads interstitial glucose, which is the level of glucose found in the fluid between cells. In younger people it can be placed on the buttocks.
It’s designed to take measurements of your glucose levels all day and night and provide a snapshot of your levels at any given time.
Keeping track of trends in how your glucose levels rise and fall throughout the day in real-time aids in the overall management of diabetes because it can give you insight as to where your blood sugar is and where it is going so you can discover patterns and make necessary changes to better balance your blood sugars.
A continous glucose monitor may benefit you if you have type 2 diabetes and:
Some notable features include:
CGM may also be used alongside an insulin pump.
How Much Does CGM Cost?The cost of a CGM device ranges depending on the brand. The price range for a yearly supply can be as little as $1500 to as much as $6400. That said, Medicare covers the cost of CGM if a person meets all the requirements to qualify for coverage.Qualifying factors range and are up to the medical provider’s discretion.
How Much Does CGM Cost?
The cost of a CGM device ranges depending on the brand. The price range for a yearly supply can be as little as $1500 to as much as $6400. That said, Medicare covers the cost of CGM if a person meets all the requirements to qualify for coverage.Qualifying factors range and are up to the medical provider’s discretion.
FDA Approves Longest Lasting Continuous Glucose Monitor for Diabetes
Aninsulin pumpis a computerized device that is attached to the body and allows for constant insulin delivery. A catheter can attach the pump; however, some may be secured without tubing. A third option, a pump patch, is disposable and doesn’t require tubing or a catheter. The pump sends insulin into the bloodstream when needed throughout the day.
The pump helps people avoid spikes or falls in blood sugar throughout the day, which keeps insulin levels stable. Because insulin is delivered automatically throughout the day, it helps achieve tighter blood sugar control. It helps to avoid large glucose changes. The pump is programmed to deliver what is known as a basal amount, which is the amount of insulin needed to keep blood sugar levels normal.
While the pump delivers insulin automatically, it can also be used manually to give yourself insulin when needed. Fast-acting insulin can delivered before a meal to prevent high blood sugar eating.
CGM-Insulin Pumps
How Much is an Insulin Pump?The upfront costs associated with an insulin pump can be as much as $4500. Annual fees for insulin pump supplies range but typically cost upwards of $1500 per year. That said, many insurance companies will pay as much as 80–90% of the total costs for an insulin pump for those who qualify.
How Much is an Insulin Pump?
The upfront costs associated with an insulin pump can be as much as $4500. Annual fees for insulin pump supplies range but typically cost upwards of $1500 per year. That said, many insurance companies will pay as much as 80–90% of the total costs for an insulin pump for those who qualify.
Aglucometer,also known as a blood glucose monitor, is a small device that measures blood glucose levels with a small sample of a person’s blood. These meters can only tell a person their blood sugar levels at that moment.
Are Glucometers Cost Effective?While the initial upfront cost of a glucometer can be affordable at roughly $40 to $60, the annual fees for test strips can be anywhere from $1000 to $3000. That said, people with Medicare Part B are typically covered and will not have to pay out of pocket.
Are Glucometers Cost Effective?
While the initial upfront cost of a glucometer can be affordable at roughly $40 to $60, the annual fees for test strips can be anywhere from $1000 to $3000. That said, people with Medicare Part B are typically covered and will not have to pay out of pocket.
Aninsulin penis a device that contains insulin. Within the pen are vials or cartridges of insulin that can be delivered manually through a disposable needle. People who are more on the go typically use them as they provide the freedom to give themselves insulin injections wherever they are.
There are two types of insulin pens:
Disposable pens contain cartilages of insulin and get thrown out once they’re empty. Reusable pens can be refilled with new cartridges once it is empty. The empty cartridge gets tossed, and you keep the pen.
Reusablesmart device pensalso work alongside a companion app to track dosages and provide much-needed data to help manage diabetes. Smart insulin pens can also:
Are Insulin Pens Expensive?Insulin pens and insulin are not covered under Medicare Part B insurance. That said, Medicare Part D does cover the costs of injectable insulin used with a pen.Without insurance, using insulin pens to manage your diabetes can cost upwards of $100 per month.
Are Insulin Pens Expensive?
Insulin pens and insulin are not covered under Medicare Part B insurance. That said, Medicare Part D does cover the costs of injectable insulin used with a pen.Without insurance, using insulin pens to manage your diabetes can cost upwards of $100 per month.
What Does Insulin Cost and What’s Behind the Skyrocketing Prices?
Smartphone appsare also often used to help with diabetes management.They track food, exercise, blood glucose levels, medication, and carb intake.
The apps, although helpful, need to be used alongside another monitoring system if you want to track your glucose levels. There are many apps to choose from, so picking the right one will depend entirely on what you want to track.
Are Diabetes Apps Expensive?Apps used to track diabetes can range significantly. For example, BlueStar Diabetes is free and allows for blood glucose and carb monitoring, as well as viewing lab results and sending information to your healthcare provider. Other apps, such as Glucose Buddy, are free to download but have in-app products that cost anywhere from $15 to $60.
Are Diabetes Apps Expensive?
Apps used to track diabetes can range significantly. For example, BlueStar Diabetes is free and allows for blood glucose and carb monitoring, as well as viewing lab results and sending information to your healthcare provider. Other apps, such as Glucose Buddy, are free to download but have in-app products that cost anywhere from $15 to $60.
Telemedicine is medical care that is provided over the phone or online. It is often used when it isn’t necessary to be in the same physical vicinity as your medical provider.
Is Telemedicine Cheaper Than Seeing Your Medical Provider?
Self-management of diabetes can be difficult and isolating, so joining an online community may be a valuable way to connect with others who share the same experience. While an online community won’t manage your diabetes effectively on its own, it will help you share the burden with others.
Are Online Communities Free?It is free to participate in an online community. Because of this, it is one of the easiest ways to connect with others and further improve your diabetes management.
Are Online Communities Free?
It is free to participate in an online community. Because of this, it is one of the easiest ways to connect with others and further improve your diabetes management.
What Is Type 2 Diabetes?
Summary
Technological advances have made it easier than ever to keep track of blood glucose levels and manage diabetes. Many tech options, such as smart insulin pens, glucose monitoring systems, and apps, can effectively assist a person in keeping on top of their blood sugar levels.
Using technology to manage your diabetes makes it much easier and allows you to live more freely. In some cases, technology can connect you to others. While that doesn’t directly keep track of your diabetes, it can help you cope with the condition.
Frequently Asked QuestionsA smart insulin pen is a device that works the same as a typical insulin pen but pairs with an app. Within the app, glucose levels, dosages, and trends can all be tracked for better management. The smart insulin pen is a great way to manage blood glucose levels if you’re often on the go.Learn MoreWhat is a Smart Insulin Pen for Diabetes?The cost of a CGM device isn’t clear-cut because it depends on the brand and whether or not a person has insurance. The entire cost may be covered if a person has Medicare and qualifies for the device based on their medical provider’s recommendation. However, without insurance, a CGM device could cost upwards of $100 a month.Learn MoreContinuous Glucose Monitoring Pros and Cons
Frequently Asked Questions
A smart insulin pen is a device that works the same as a typical insulin pen but pairs with an app. Within the app, glucose levels, dosages, and trends can all be tracked for better management. The smart insulin pen is a great way to manage blood glucose levels if you’re often on the go.Learn MoreWhat is a Smart Insulin Pen for Diabetes?
A smart insulin pen is a device that works the same as a typical insulin pen but pairs with an app. Within the app, glucose levels, dosages, and trends can all be tracked for better management. The smart insulin pen is a great way to manage blood glucose levels if you’re often on the go.
Learn MoreWhat is a Smart Insulin Pen for Diabetes?
The cost of a CGM device isn’t clear-cut because it depends on the brand and whether or not a person has insurance. The entire cost may be covered if a person has Medicare and qualifies for the device based on their medical provider’s recommendation. However, without insurance, a CGM device could cost upwards of $100 a month.Learn MoreContinuous Glucose Monitoring Pros and Cons
The cost of a CGM device isn’t clear-cut because it depends on the brand and whether or not a person has insurance. The entire cost may be covered if a person has Medicare and qualifies for the device based on their medical provider’s recommendation. However, without insurance, a CGM device could cost upwards of $100 a month.
Learn MoreContinuous Glucose Monitoring Pros and Cons
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Continuous glucose monitoring.Diabetes Educator.Pocket guide: Continuous glucose monitoring.Alcántara-Aragón V.Improving patient self-care using diabetes technologies.Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab.2019 Jan 28;10:2042018818824215. doi:10.1177/2042018818824215Medicare.Continuous glucose monitors.My Health Alberta.Learning about insulin pumps.Ackermann RT, Wallia A, Kang R, Cooper A, Prospect TA, Sandy LG, Vojta D.Comparative effectiveness and costs of insulin pump therapy for diabetes.Am J Manag Care.2017 Jun;23(6):353-359.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes technology has come a long way.Medicare.Blood sugar monitors.American Diabetes Association.Insulin pens.American Diabetes Association.What is a smart insulin pen?Medicare.Insulin coverage.UAB Medicine.All about continuous glucose monitors for people with diabetes.Mullur RS, Hsiao JS, Mueller K.Telemedicine in diabetes care.Am Fam Physician.2022 Mar 1;105(3):281-288.Alcántara-Aragón V.Improving patient self-care using diabetes technologies.Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab.2019 Jan 28;10:2042018818824215. doi:10.1177/2042018818824215Lee JY, Lee SWH.Telemedicine cost-effectiveness for diabetes management: A systematic review.Diabetes Technol Ther.2018 Jul;20(7):492-500. doi:10.1089/dia.2018.0098Hilliard ME, Sparling KM, Hitchcock J, Oser TK, Hood KK.The emerging diabetes online community.Curr Diabetes Rev.2015;11(4):261-272. doi:10.2174/1573399811666150421123448
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Continuous glucose monitoring.Diabetes Educator.Pocket guide: Continuous glucose monitoring.Alcántara-Aragón V.Improving patient self-care using diabetes technologies.Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab.2019 Jan 28;10:2042018818824215. doi:10.1177/2042018818824215Medicare.Continuous glucose monitors.My Health Alberta.Learning about insulin pumps.Ackermann RT, Wallia A, Kang R, Cooper A, Prospect TA, Sandy LG, Vojta D.Comparative effectiveness and costs of insulin pump therapy for diabetes.Am J Manag Care.2017 Jun;23(6):353-359.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes technology has come a long way.Medicare.Blood sugar monitors.American Diabetes Association.Insulin pens.American Diabetes Association.What is a smart insulin pen?Medicare.Insulin coverage.UAB Medicine.All about continuous glucose monitors for people with diabetes.Mullur RS, Hsiao JS, Mueller K.Telemedicine in diabetes care.Am Fam Physician.2022 Mar 1;105(3):281-288.Alcántara-Aragón V.Improving patient self-care using diabetes technologies.Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab.2019 Jan 28;10:2042018818824215. doi:10.1177/2042018818824215Lee JY, Lee SWH.Telemedicine cost-effectiveness for diabetes management: A systematic review.Diabetes Technol Ther.2018 Jul;20(7):492-500. doi:10.1089/dia.2018.0098Hilliard ME, Sparling KM, Hitchcock J, Oser TK, Hood KK.The emerging diabetes online community.Curr Diabetes Rev.2015;11(4):261-272. doi:10.2174/1573399811666150421123448
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Continuous glucose monitoring.Diabetes Educator.Pocket guide: Continuous glucose monitoring.Alcántara-Aragón V.Improving patient self-care using diabetes technologies.Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab.2019 Jan 28;10:2042018818824215. doi:10.1177/2042018818824215Medicare.Continuous glucose monitors.My Health Alberta.Learning about insulin pumps.Ackermann RT, Wallia A, Kang R, Cooper A, Prospect TA, Sandy LG, Vojta D.Comparative effectiveness and costs of insulin pump therapy for diabetes.Am J Manag Care.2017 Jun;23(6):353-359.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes technology has come a long way.Medicare.Blood sugar monitors.American Diabetes Association.Insulin pens.American Diabetes Association.What is a smart insulin pen?Medicare.Insulin coverage.UAB Medicine.All about continuous glucose monitors for people with diabetes.Mullur RS, Hsiao JS, Mueller K.Telemedicine in diabetes care.Am Fam Physician.2022 Mar 1;105(3):281-288.Alcántara-Aragón V.Improving patient self-care using diabetes technologies.Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab.2019 Jan 28;10:2042018818824215. doi:10.1177/2042018818824215Lee JY, Lee SWH.Telemedicine cost-effectiveness for diabetes management: A systematic review.Diabetes Technol Ther.2018 Jul;20(7):492-500. doi:10.1089/dia.2018.0098Hilliard ME, Sparling KM, Hitchcock J, Oser TK, Hood KK.The emerging diabetes online community.Curr Diabetes Rev.2015;11(4):261-272. doi:10.2174/1573399811666150421123448
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Continuous glucose monitoring.
Diabetes Educator.Pocket guide: Continuous glucose monitoring.
Alcántara-Aragón V.Improving patient self-care using diabetes technologies.Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab.2019 Jan 28;10:2042018818824215. doi:10.1177/2042018818824215
Medicare.Continuous glucose monitors.
My Health Alberta.Learning about insulin pumps.
Ackermann RT, Wallia A, Kang R, Cooper A, Prospect TA, Sandy LG, Vojta D.Comparative effectiveness and costs of insulin pump therapy for diabetes.Am J Manag Care.2017 Jun;23(6):353-359.
American Diabetes Association.Diabetes technology has come a long way.
Medicare.Blood sugar monitors.
American Diabetes Association.Insulin pens.
American Diabetes Association.What is a smart insulin pen?
Medicare.Insulin coverage.
UAB Medicine.All about continuous glucose monitors for people with diabetes.
Mullur RS, Hsiao JS, Mueller K.Telemedicine in diabetes care.Am Fam Physician.2022 Mar 1;105(3):281-288.
Lee JY, Lee SWH.Telemedicine cost-effectiveness for diabetes management: A systematic review.Diabetes Technol Ther.2018 Jul;20(7):492-500. doi:10.1089/dia.2018.0098
Hilliard ME, Sparling KM, Hitchcock J, Oser TK, Hood KK.The emerging diabetes online community.Curr Diabetes Rev.2015;11(4):261-272. doi:10.2174/1573399811666150421123448
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