New report captures - for the first time - the barriers to medical tech choices and potential better health outcomes for people with type 1 diabetes

JDRF's new report captures - for the first time - the barriers, motivations and opportunities voiced by the UK's type 1 diabetes community on the provision of wearable medical technology choices.

The Pathway to Choice programme, led by the type 1 diabetes charity JDRF, aims to build awareness and access to type 1 diabetes technology choices such as insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, and flash glucose monitors.

The programme's first report - anchored in new market research among people affected by type 1 diabetes - is launched today in Parliament.

Currently, only a small proportion of people in the UK living with type 1 diabetes use the range of wearable medical devices that are available on the NHS.

Those who do can have their long-term health outcomes boosted. But the proportion of people with type 1 diabetes who are on an insulin pump, for example, varies from
over 40 per cent in some specialist NHS services to less than five per cent in others.

The report's findings indicate a range of complex factors behind the barriers to type 1 diabetes technology awareness and access. They include:

- Education and access to information

JDRF's market research reveals a perception among people affected by type 1 diabetes that healthcare professionals are often resource and time limited. They report that type 1 diabetes appointments - with various topics to cover - often allow little chance for a wider conversation about devices.

When asked "what do you discuss with your (or your child's) diabetes team?", only 34 per cent of respondents replied "technology-based treatments" compared to 68 per cent answering "HbA1c levels" and 63 per cent answering "insulin types and doses."

The report states that "given there are few opportunities to talk about technology-based options with healthcare professionals, it is not surprising that the desire for more information on this is a key priority for people with type 1 diabetes." When asked what area of type 1 diabetes information they are keen to receive, the most popular answer (chosen by 48 per cent) was "blood glucose management and technology options."

- Social-economic and financial

Just 18% of respondents from lower social-economic groups said they discuss technology at their clinician appointments, compared to 46% of the least deprived.

- Attitudinal and physical

The report reveals that people who are happy or satisfied with their current diabetes management are more reluctant to change and adapt to technology. Change symbolises risks that some are not willing to take. Physical appearance of the technology also has a strong influence for some, when it comes to choosing whether or not to use it.

In response to these findings, the Pathway to Choice report gives recommendations in order to help remove barriers to awareness and access:

- People with type 1 diabetes should have more time with specialist healthcare professionals at appointments

This includes "allowing sufficient time for a solutions-based conversation at each clinician appointment, following the type 1 technology pathway" as well as "ensuring people with type 1 have access to trusted information to support their conversations with healthcare professionals." Also, "structured education from an accredited source" should be provided to all people with type 1 diabetes.

- Healthcare professionals should receive mandatory training on type 1 diabetes technology

Such training should place "emphasis on the empowerment of choice to best support a person with type 1 in deciding on treatment."

- Clinical Commissioning Groups should do more to reach people with type 1 diabetes from lower socio-economic groups

To address this issue, all Clinical Commissioning Groups should "base their type 1 commissioning policies on NICE guidelines with regards to type 1 technology" and a UK-wide diabetes register should be created to "map type 1 technology uptake".

Further details on the findings, and the recommendations, are provided in the full report.

Commenting on the launch of the report, Karen Addington, Chief Executive of JDRF in the UK, said: "JDRF believes everyone who wants and would benefit from type 1 diabetes technology should gain access to it."

She added: "This Pathway to Choice report aims to understand the motivations and barriers people face in making treatment choices. These findings will enable us to explore the types of support people need."

JDRF's Pathway to Choice programme is in partnership with Abbott's Diabetes Care business, Dexcom, Insulet International Ltd and Roche Diabetes Care.

Name: JDRF
Angel Gate, 17/18, City Rd, London EC1V 2PT
Contact
Michael Connellan, JDRF Head of External Affairs, mconnellan@jdrf.org.uk / 07900 923224

About JDRF

JDRF is the leading global organisation funding type 1 diabetes research. Our mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than ?1 billion since our inception. We collaborate with the most talented minds to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with type 1 diabetes. Our staff and volunteers around the globe are dedicated to campaigning for our vision of a world without type 1 diabetes. For more information, please visit jdrf.org.uk or follow us on Twitter: @JDRFUK.

This release was published on openPR.