Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of providing funding for (a) continuous glucose monitoring and (b) other preventive technologies on (i) NHS expenditure and (b) complications arising from type II diabetes.

Data from the National Diabetes Audit suggests that the number of people with type 2 diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring is increasing. In 2022/23, 37,000 people were using continuous glucose monitoring, rising to 95,000 people in 2023/24, and to 155,000 people in 2024/25. Metrics that are useful for health systems to monitor access to glucose monitoring will be published later this year

Unlike for medicines, there is no national pathway to prioritise and nationally fund the highest impact health technology, including wearable technology. As a result, we see significant unwarranted variation in uptake, weakening the perceived attractiveness of the United Kingdom’s market. From April 2026, building on and adapting our experience with medicines, we will begin expanding NICE’s technology appraisal process, which includes mandated funding by the NHS, to cover some devices, diagnostics, and digital products. This will focus on those that meet the NHS’ most urgent needs and support financial sustainability.

By 2035, all patients will have access to wearables. Wearables will enable patients and their carers to better manage their care by having access to their health data such as blood pressure and glucose levels. They will also enable remote monitoring to alert a patient’s care team to any issues so that appropriate interventions can be made quickly before they progress. The 10-Year Health Plan aims to reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and enhance the care of patients living with diabetes through the delivery of the three shifts:

• from hospital to community, which will enable those living with diabetes to manage their care in the best way for them through the Neighbourhood Health Service;
• from analogue to digital, which will make it easier for those living with diabetes to access tailored advice and manage their appointments at a time that suits them; and
• from treatment to prevention, which will make it easier for people to access diabetes screening and support people to make healthier choices to prevent them from developing type 2 diabetes.