Ethnic minorities in England less likely to have access to diabetes tech – study | Diabetes
People from ethnic minority backgrounds in England are less likely to have access to the latest diabetes technology, despite being more likely to live with the disease, the analysis found.
Devices such as a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) can help people control their blood sugar levels to better manage the disease.
Without this technology, people with diabetes are faced with much less effective and inconvenient methods to manage blood sugar levels, such as finger pricks.
The study, published in the journal Diabetic Medicine, found there were significant inequalities in access to continuous glucose measurements, with people of black and south Asian descent facing lower prescribing rates per 1,000 people.
People from ethnic minority backgrounds made up 17.5% of the population served by integrated care boards (ICBs), with a below-average prescribing rate for CGMs in 2024. In contrast, ethnic minorities made up only 5.3% of the population in ICBs with an above-average prescribing rate.
Around 5.8 million people across the UK are living with diabetes; Especially people of black and South Asian descent suffer from diabetes. at higher risk Risk of developing type 2 diabetes by age 25.
Samuel Seidu, lead author and professor of primary care diabetes and cardio-metabolic medicine at the University of Leicester, said the study was “the first national analysis to show with robust prescribing data that significant ethnic inequalities in access to continuous glucose monitoring exist in England in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.”
He added: “This disparity is not entirely surprising as previous research internationally (particularly in the US) has repeatedly shown lower adoption of diabetes technologies in minority ethnic groups.
“Minority groups in the UK already experience higher prevalence of diabetes and poorer cardiometabolic outcomes, suggesting structural inequalities in access to care. Ethnicity and deprivation together account for up to 77% of the variance in CGM prescribing in type 2 diabetes, meaning structural inequalities are deeply embedded.”
According to guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), all adults with type 1 and 2 diabetes should have access to diabetes technology, including a CGM device. However, the study shows that these rules are not applied consistently across all parts of England.
Anthony Walker, policy lead at Diabetes UK, said the research revealed “real inequalities” that exist in access to life-changing technology.
He said: “It is crucial to actively raise awareness among underserved communities. Health professionals also need to be supported to identify where gaps in access exist and have the tools to develop targeted interventions to address them.”
“It is vital that Nice’s guidelines are adopted consistently, so that everyone who can benefit from this transformative technology can access it.”
The Guardian’s previous report found that many families from poor backgrounds are not making the most of diabetes technology provided by the NHS because they cannot afford smartphones, which can make managing type 1 diabetes more manageable, especially among young children.
Diabetes advocate Daniel Newman, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a child, said: “I have been advocating for access to CGMs for people living with diabetes for many years. I too had to move my diabetes care to a different hospital to get access to the technology I knew I was entitled to.”
“Access to CGMs should be determined by clinical need, not by postcode, ethnicity or income. It is worrying to know that the communities most affected by type 2 diabetes are least likely to receive this technology. We must confront the systemic barriers that deny people the tools they need to live well, and ensure Nice guidance is not only accepted but actively implemented for everyone who qualifies.”
NHS England has been approached for comment.
