Diabetes technologies have the potential to transform the care of people with diabetes. The continuous glucose monitor (CGM) has been shown to improve glucose control—preventing dangerous high and low blood sugars—and is recommended by national diabetes clinical guidelines and covered by private health plans. However, Medicare does not yet cover CGM devices, denying Americans age 65 and older access to this important technology.

The CGM is an FDA-approved, physician-prescribed device that detects and displays blood glucose levels continuously, and also reveal trends in a patient’s glucose levels that often go unnoticed by using finger-stick measurements alone. The CGM has been shown to improve glucose control. By viewing continuous data, and by responding to alerts from a CGM, patients can react to rising or falling glucose levels before they become dangerously high or low. The use of CGM technologies is recommended by national diabetes clinical guidelines and covered by nearly all private health plans, and thousands of people are benefitting daily from tighter glucose control reached with the help of a CGM.

A recent article published online in TimesUnion.com covers the personal story of a 68-year-old diabetic, and his need for Medicare to cover his CGM device. JDRF is urging Congress to fix this problem. Click here to ask your member of Congress to co-sponsor legislation to provide Medicare coverage for CGM and to sign a petition to Medicare regarding this issue.