PARSIPPANY, NJ, May 27, 2021 / PRNewswire / – People living with type 2 diabetes in the United States may not be prescribed enough blood glucose monitoring (BGM) test strips to optimally manage their diabetes. This is the result of new research by Ascensia Diabetes Care, a leading company in diabetes care and manufacturer of CONTOUR® NEXT BGM and test strips. Additionally, the study shows that people with diabetes overestimate the real price of over-the-counter (OTC) test strips, with the average price estimate nearly four times the real cost1,2.
There are approximately 12 million people with type 2 diabetes in the United States who use BGM to monitor their condition3. Ascensia’s latest survey of 750+ people with type 2 diabetes in the United States found that more than half (54%) of health insurers replenish their test strip prescriptions at least once a month by purchasing additional OTC and test strips 79 % do this at least every two to three months, which suggests they are either underprescribed or underinsured.
Mary Puncochar, Head of the US Region at Ascensia Diabetes Care, commented, “While there is a stronger rationale for blood glucose testing in people with type 2 diabetes who use insulin, we believe it really is for anyone with type 2 diabetes is valuable as it allows you to see how their blood sugar levels react to food, medication and exercise. With such a large percentage of people refilling their prescribed allocation of BGM test strips, our research shows that many people with type 2 Monitor Diabetes More Often Than Want to Monitor This is what your insurance company provides, suggesting that they see an advantage in having more information about their blood sugar levels in order to better manage their diabetes. “
The research also revealed a lack of awareness of the real cost of test strips when bought over the counter. On average, insured respondents expect that each test strip generates costs $ 1.69. In fact, however, the average cost3 is roughly between 40 and 70 cents per strip, depending on the brand and the place where the purchase is made.
Mary Puncocharat Ascensia Diabetes Care continued, “Diabetes is an expensive lifelong disease, and tackling the maze of healthcare costs can be confusing for people. Being aware of the real costs, consumers can make informed choices about the best way to look for to pay for important diabetes products they need to manage their condition. Our research suggests that the cost of buying test strips out of pocket is vastly overestimated, as it could be up to four times the cost of high insurance With additional payments, cash or expenses may be the cheaper option for them. ”
Visit www.ascensiadiabetes.com/otc for more information and tools to help you determine the most cost-effective option to get test strips
1. Ascensia Diabetes Care. Data in file. BGM test strips – Cash Research. January 2021 2. Ascensia Diabetes Care. Data in file. BGM diagnosed patients – CDC. January 2021 3. Ascensia Diabetes Care. Data in file. Current prices for OTC BGM test strips. April 2021
Notes for editors
About Ascensia Diabetes Care
Ascensia Diabetes Care is a global company focused solely on helping people with diabetes. Our mission is to empower people with diabetes through innovative solutions that make their lives easier and better.
We house the world-famous CONTOUR® portfolio of blood glucose monitoring systems and the exclusive global sales partner for the Eversense® continuous glucose monitoring systems from Senseonics. These products combine advanced technology with easy-to-use features to help people with diabetes manage their condition and make positive changes in their lives. As a trusted partner in the diabetes community, we work closely with healthcare professionals and other partners to ensure that our products meet the highest standards of accuracy, precision, and reliability, and that we conduct our business with compliance and integrity.
Ascensia is a member of the PHC Group and was founded in 2016 through the sale of Bayer Diabetes Care to PHC Holdings (formerly Panasonic Healthcare). Ascensia products are sold in more than 125 countries. Ascensia employs around 1,700 people and operates in 31 countries.
For more information, please visit the Ascensia Diabetes Care website at: http://www.ascensia.com.
© 2021 Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG. All rights reserved. Ascensia, the Ascensia Diabetes Care logo, and Contour are trademarks and / or registered trademarks of Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG.
SOURCE Ascensia Diabetes Care
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