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 condition, according to analysis.
Devices such as a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) can help people check their blood glucose levels in order to better manage the disease.
Without this technology, people with diabetes are left with much less efficient and inconvenient ways of managing their blood sugar levels, such as through finger pricking.
The study, published in the journal Diabetic Medicine, found significant disparities in access to continuous glucose monitors, with people from black and south Asian backgrounds 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 lower than average prescribing rate for CGMs in 2024. By contrast, ethnic minorities only made up to 5.3% of the populationin ICBs with a higher than average prescribing rate.
About 5.8 million people across the UK live with diabetes, while people from black and south Asian backgrounds in particular are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes by the age of 25.
Samuel Seidu, the lead author and a professor in primary care diabetes and cardio-metabolic medicine at the University of Leicester, said the study was the “first national analysis in England to demonstrate, with robust prescribing data, that significant ethnic inequalities exist in access to continuous glucose monitoring across both type 1 and type 2 diabetes”.
He added: “The disparity is not entirely surprising, although it is concerning as previous research internationally (especially in the US) has repeatedly shown lower adoption of diabetes technologies in minority ethnic groups.
“In the UK, minority groups already experience higher diabetes prevalence and worse cardiometabolic outcomes, suggesting structural inequities in care access. Ethnicity and deprivation together account for up to 77% of variance in CGM prescribing in type 2 diabetes, meaning structural inequities are deeply embedded.”
According to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidelines, all adults with type 1 and 2 diabetes should have access to diabetes technology, including a CGM device. However, the study shows that these guidelines are not being implemented consistently across all areas of England.
Anthony Walker, policy lead at Diabetes UK, said the research revealed “the very real inequities” that exist in access to life-changing tech.
He said: “Actively raising awareness among underserved communities is crucial. Healthcare professionals must also be supported to identify where the gaps in access are 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 could stand to benefit from this transformative technology can access it.”
Previous reporting by the Guardian found that many families from deprived backgrounds were unable to make the most of NHS-provided diabetes technology because they were unable to afford smartphones, which can make managing type 1 diabetes, especially among small children, more manageable.
Daniel Newman, a diabetes advocate who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a child, said: “I’ve been advocating for access to CGMs for people living with diabetes for many years. I myself had to move my diabetes care to a different hospital to get access to the tech I knew I was entitled to.
“Access to CGMs should be based on clinical need, not determined by postcode, ethnicity or income. It’s troubling to know that the communities most affected by type 2 diabetes are the least likely to receive this technology. We must confront the systemic barriers that deny people the tools they need to live well – and ensure that Nice guidance is not just acknowledged, but actively implemented for everyone who qualifies.”
NHS England have been approached for comment.
