Awareness expected 
to benefit diabetes, DME

According to the American Diabetes Association’s latest figures, 79 million Americans have prediabetes, but only 1-out-of-10 knows it. That suggests a terrific upside in the market of diabetes-testing supplies and diabetes-supportive products as more of those Americans become aware of their condition. 


The opportunity, though, is in helping to manage the condition. An expected growth in medication therapy management offerings necessary to improve patient compliance and drive down healthcare costs, coupled with the continued advancement in telemedicine infrastructure — the iPodding of diabetes testing supplies — represent the real growth drivers beyond the simple projected increase in need for diabetes-related supplies.


There is a similar growth trajectory associated with the sale of durable medical equipment. Baby boomers, the first of whom celebrated their 65th birthdays last year, are still some 10 to 15 years from needing daily living assistance products themselves. But much of that business is migrating to the drug channel with consumers paying for those items with cash, as opposed to through insurers like Medicare because of a trend toward home health care versus nursing homes and a growing awareness that affordable DME products are available at retail.

The article above is part of the DSN Category Review Series. For the complete DME/Diabetes Buy-In Report, including extensive charts, data and more analysis, click here.