The United States diabetes care drugs and devices market size was estimated at USD 55.43 billion in the current year. The market is expected to reach USD 69.78 billion in five years, registering a CAGR of more than 4% during the forecast period.
People with diabetes are at a heightened risk of experiencing serious complications from COVID-19 and face a 300% increased risk of being hospitalized compared to those without diabetes. This can result in significantly higher healthcare costs, prompting doctors and the government to urge people with diabetes to check their glucose levels regularly.
Diabetes, a persistent and potentially fatal ailment lacking a cure, affects a staggering number of individuals worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, the global population of people living with diabetes exceeds 400 million, and the expenses incurred for its treatment account for approximately 12% of the overall healthcare expenditure. This condition has rapidly spread as a worldwide epidemic, afflicting millions across the globe. The substantial expansion of the diabetes market can be attributed to several factors, including the escalating prevalence of diabetes and the implementation of numerous health awareness programs by various organizations. Presently, Type-1 diabetes accounts for approximately 10% of all diabetes cases, while the remaining majority falls under Type-2.
People with diabetes are more likely to develop severe symptoms and complications when infected with the virus. According to AACE (American Association for Clinical Endocrinology), a recent study reported that 22.2-26.9% of those hospitalized with serious illness had diabetes. Diabetes and hyperglycemia are associated with increased complications, respiratory failure, and mortality in hospitalized patients with coronavirus.
The pandemic has also highlighted opportunities to continue and expand innovation in diabetes care through virtual consultations between healthcare providers and people with diabetes and using diabetes technology. Crisis management has led to unprecedented interest in telemedicine from patients and healthcare professionals, removing many long-standing regulatory barriers. Thus, the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has fueled the growth of the diabetes care equipment market.
The continuous blood glucose monitoring segment recorded revenues of over USD 2 billion this year and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 9% during the forecast period. Continuous glucose monitoring sensors use glucose oxidase to measure blood sugar levels. Glucose oxidase converts glucose to hydrogen peroxidase, which reacts with platinum in the sensor to send an electrical signal to a transmitter. The sensor is the most important part of any continuous blood glucose monitoring device. Technological advances in improving sensor accuracy are expected to drive the growth of the segment during the forecast period.
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the need for good glycaemic control in diabetic patients. This is primarily because most observational studies report that poorly controlled diabetes increases the risk of hospitalization and death from viral disease. The frequency of monitoring blood glucose levels depends on the type of diabetes and is different for each patient. Patients with type 1 diabetes should have their blood sugar checked regularly to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin dosage accordingly.
CGM device now provides blood glucose patterns and trends compared to routine blood glucose monitoring at set intervals. In addition, current continuous blood glucose monitors can retroactively display blood glucose trends by downloading data or providing real-time images of blood glucose levels via the receiver display.
CGM use in patients with type 1 diabetes is very low compared to patients with type 2 diabetes. However, people with type 1 diabetes spend almost twice as much on these devices as people with type 2 diabetes. The latest CGM models, Abbott Freestyle Libre and Dexcom G6, have overcome many technical obstacles. However, patients with type 2 diabetes have not adopted CGM as widely as possible due to its high cost and uncertain need and efficacy. Also, to help ease the cost burden for diabetics in the United States, Abbott has introduced a new, cheaper category (2 sensors, each lasting 14 days) that costs about $75-$150 per month. With the advent of new technologies such as mobile phone integration, continuous blood glucose monitoring devices are becoming increasingly cheaper, which is expected to drive the growth of the segment during the forecast period.
In the United States, the prevalence of diabetes has increased dramatically over the past two decades due to rising obesity and lifestyle changes. Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing chronic diseases in the United States. About 1.75 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes each year. The country also has the highest number of obese people, which is the main cause of type 2 diabetes. North America remained the largest market for insulin drugs, mainly due to high demand from the United States.
Diabetes drugs are drugs designed to stabilize and control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Antidiabetic drugs are often used to treat diabetes. Diabetes drugs have become potential candidates for treating diabetic patients affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. In North America, as of April 2022, the United States had the highest number of new coronavirus infections with about 82 million people and the highest death rate. The pandemic has improved remote care for patients and providers, removing many long-standing regulatory barriers.
In July 2022, Zydus Lifesciences announced that it received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to commercialize multi-strength tablets of empagliflozin and metformin hydrochloride. Empagliflozin and metformin hydrochloride tablets are used with proper diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is also used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in patients with type 2 diabetes and pre-existing cardiovascular disease.
Several innovations have been launched in the United States by startups such as Glooko, OneDrop, Verily, Vacate, Insulet, Noom, Bigfoot Biomedical, Virta Health, Diabeloop, and Orgenesis. As obesity becomes more prevalent due to reduced physical activity, unhealthy diet, and other lifestyle factors, the market for diabetes treatment devices is expected to witness steady growth in the coming years. As people's awareness of advanced diabetes devices increases, so does their adaptability to diabetes devices. Leading manufacturers focus on technological innovation and the development of advanced products in order to capture a large market share. From insulin injections to insulin pumps, insulin delivery system technology has come a long way.
Technological innovations and advances have brought many conveniences to blood glucose measurement. Abbott and Dexcom have received FDA approval to use continuous blood glucose monitoring in people affected by the coronavirus in U.S. hospitals. Dexcom began shipping his CGM to hospitals in April 2020. The company plans to produce 100,000 sensors at a low cost for hospitals. The company plans to donate 10,000 phones and CGM readers to hospitals to scan those sensors. Therefore, the market under study is expected to grow during the analysis period due to the increasing prevalence of diabetes.
Manufacturers have constantly innovated to survive in the market. Large companies such as Abbott and Medtronic have made numerous mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships to gain market dominance while adhering to organic growth strategies. The manufacturers of insulin delivery devices are spending a huge amount on the R&D of the devices.
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