NHS England Criteria for access to continuous glucose monitoring

Web Resource Last Updated: 12-12-2022

Criteria for access to continuous glucose monitoring:

NICE Guidelines (Updated March 2022)

Type 1 diabetes

  • All adults with Type 1 diabetes should be offered real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) or intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM, commonly referred to as 'flash')

  • All children with Type 1 diabetes should be offered real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM). If unable to use rtCGM or a clear preference is expressed for isCGM, they should be offered intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring ( commonly referred to as 'flash').

Type 2 diabetes

  • Intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM, commonly referred to as 'flash') can be offered to adults with type 2 diabetes on multiple daily insulin injections if any of the following apply:

    • recurrent hypoglycaemia or severe hypoglycaemia
    • impaired hypoglycaemia awareness
    • a condition or disability (including a learning disability or cognitive impairment) that means they cannot self-monitor their blood glucose by capillary blood glucose monitoring (finger prick testing) but could use an isCGM device (or have it scanned for them)
    • would otherwise need help from a care worker or healthcare professional to monitor their blood glucose
    • self-monitoring blood glucose at least 8 times a day.

During pregnancy

  • Type 1 Diabetes and pregnant – real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) should be offered. Intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM, commonly referred to as 'flash') should be offered if unable to use rtCGM or a clear preference is expressed for isCGM.
  • Type 2 Diabetes on insulin and pregnant - real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) will be considered if any of the following apply:

    • problematic severe hypoglycaemia (with or without impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia)
    • unstable blood glucose levels despite efforts to control glucose levels

Adults with other types of diabetes

  • There is very limited NICE guidance on access to continuous glucose monitoring for people with other types of diabetes such as LADA or those caused by another illness or rare genetic condition. Check with your healthcare team. Depending on how you manage your diabetes you may or may not qualify. Your healthcare team are likely to apply the guidance for type 1 or type 2 diabetes based on the type of treatment you’re receiving for your blood glucose levels.

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