The United Kingdom Blood Glucose Monitoring Market size is estimated at USD 514.15 million in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 769.54 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 8.40% during the forecast period (2023-2028).
One of the most significant risk factors for a severe course of COVID-19 is diabetes mellitus. This risk is believed to be influenced by several variables that are frequently present in diabetes mellitus, such as advanced age, a proinflammatory and hypercoagulable condition, hyperglycemia, and underlying comorbidities (hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and obesity). Diabetes was quickly recognized as a risk factor for bad results during the COVID-19 pandemic. That's why managing or delaying cases of type 2 diabetes became more important than ever before. Several studies have confirmed that chronic diseases like diabetes are associated with adverse outcomes in COVID-19 patients.
Diabetes is associated with many health complications. Comparing the population with and without diabetes, those with diabetes have a 300% increased risk of being hospitalized and, thus, incur more healthcare expenses compared to non-diabetic people. People with diabetes face a higher chance of experiencing serious complications from COVID-19. In general, people with diabetes are more likely to experience severe symptoms and complications when infected with a virus. Diabetes and high glucose levels are associated with increased complications, respiratory failure, and mortality in hospitalized patients with coronavirus.
According to The British Diabetic Association, “The pandemic has had, and continues to have, a huge impact on our society. But research and data have shown that people with diabetes have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, particularly in terms of poorer outcomes when contracting the virus. That's why preventing or delaying cases of type 2 diabetes is more important than ever before.” The pandemic also highlighted opportunities for continuing and expanding innovations in the delivery of diabetes care, through virtual consultations between healthcare providers and people with diabetes, and the use of diabetes technology. Crisis management has created unprecedented interest in remote care from both patients and providers and removed many long-standing regulatory barriers. Thus, the COVID-19 outbreak increased the blood glucose monitoring market's growth.
The United Kingdom's diabetes population is expected to grow, registering a CAGR greater than 2% over the forecast period.
In the United Kingdom, the prevalence of diabetes has increased dramatically during the last two decades, a fact driven by the increased prevalence of obesity and lifestyle changes. The country also has the highest obesity population, which is a prominent cause of type-2 diabetes. According to the British Diabetic Association's Diabetes Prevalence, 2021 data shows an increase in the number of people living with a diabetes diagnosis in the United Kingdom—an increase of more than 150,000 from the previous year. It is estimated that more than 13.6 million people are at increased risk of type-2 diabetes in the United Kingdom. At this rate, the number of people with diabetes, including the undiagnosed population, is expected to rise to 5.5 million by 2030, as per IDF 2021 statistics.
The rapidly increasing incidence and prevalence of diabetic patients and healthcare expenditure are indications of market growth. Leading manufacturers are focusing on technological innovations and developing advanced products to gain a substantial market share. Technological innovations and advancements offer many conveniences for maintaining blood glucose levels. The vast range of apps in the diabetes field supports the adoption of lifestyle interventions for the prevention and management of diabetes, the evaluation of blood glucose control quality, and the dosing of insulin. Integration of blood glucose monitoring with insulin calculators, automated insulin titration software, and remote coaching are further developments that provide patients with poorly controlled diabetes with the additional support needed to improve critical outcomes, thereby enhancing market prospects in the years to come.
The continuous glucose monitoring segment is expected to register a CAGR of 11.8% over the forecast period.
Continuous glucose monitoring devices are automated glucose monitoring systems that consist of a small device that can be worn on the body and held on by an adhesive patch. The sensor part of the device has a cannula that is inserted into the top layer of skin and uses samples of interstitial fluid to check glucose levels. Sensors are connected to a transmitter that can send data wirelessly to a dedicated mobile receiving device or smartphone. Continuous glucose monitoring sensors use glucose oxidase to detect blood sugar levels. Sensors are the most important part of continuous glucose monitoring devices. Technological advancements to improve the accuracy of the sensors are expected to drive segment growth during the forecast period.
The use of CGMs by people with diabetes and their caregivers and communities is beneficial for managing their blood glucose and insulin levels and maintaining their health outcomes. CGM makes it significantly easier to manage blood glucose levels by decreasing interruptions, allowing for better sleep, and improving the mental health of patients or caregivers by reducing the overall mental load of managing diabetes. CGMs are widely used in children with type-1, enabling parents to feel safer by allowing other adults to care for their child, giving children more freedom and autonomy in their day-to-day lives, and enabling access to more normal experiences and opportunities.
The National Service Framework (NSF) program improves services by setting national standards to drive up service quality and tackle variations in care. The Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) launched a diabetes section, enabling diabetes technology companies to work together in the first forum of its kind. The ABHI group is for any health technology company with an interest in diabetes care, from CGMs and insulin pumps to apps. Such advantages are likely to drive segment growth over the forecast period.
The United Kingdom blood glucose monitoring market is moderately fragmented, with few significant and generic players. There have been constant innovations driven by manufacturers such as Abbott, Dexcom, Medtronic, etc. while also adhering to organic growth strategies, which is evident from the R&D spending of these companies.
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