HME COLUMN

Be Ready for Diabetes Resupply

4 priorities for strengthening diabetes supplies management

By Krysta Alexinas

Diabetes is an escalating health concern in the United States. Today, more than 12% of the American population is knowingly living with diabetes, while nearly 27% of American adults remain undiagnosed.

To add to that, more than 115 million American adults are classified today as having prediabetes—that is, their blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to receive a full diagnosis.

No matter the type or severity of a person’s diabetes, blood glucose monitoring is essential, especially for those on insulin. We continue to see continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) utilization growing in tandem with the increased prevalence of this condition. In fact, in 2024, the CGM industry was valued at $13.66 billion; it is projected to reach nearly $50 billion by 2033, an approximate 15.4% compound annual growth rate. There’s an even greater sector of millions of Americans who have access to CGMs through insurance but may not yet be using it, despite recently expanded coverage policies that improve access to these types of therapies.

Meanwhile, across the home medical equipment (HME) landscape, suppliers continue to make investments predicated on the longevity of blood sugar measurement and management as a strategic high-growth category. This has created a significant opportunity for patient retention and strengthened supplier partnerships as a competitive necessity.

Understanding what’s driving growth and interest in this space can better allow us to evolve alongside the rise in this type of therapy—to provide a more omnichannel patient experience, deliver on resupply needs to promote continuity of care, and to better enable improved patient outcomes.

Here are four priorities to track:

1. Understanding the Standard of Care

CGMs are increasingly being considered a “standard of care” for those living with diabetes, driving increased demand for recurring resupply. The equation here is simple: more people are turning to CGMs for daily, real-time monitoring of their health.

CGMs provide deeper understanding of health and may lead to healthier outcomes. While some CGM users will need a receiver device upon starting with a new system, ongoing shipments usually simply contain wearable, disposable sensors. Most sensors available today need to be replaced every 10 to 15 days, which easily translates to quantities needed for a 30-, 60- or 90-day supply. This creates predictability for reorders for providers of these devices.

2. The Importance of Automation & Efficiency

In a rapidly scaling industry, automation and technology that support resupply efficiency and reliability have never been more important. HME providers must invest in automation and technology that’s two-fold.

First, they need back-office platforms that bring automation into resource-intensive tasks like insurance verification, meeting payer-specific documentation requirements and more; and second, they should prioritize patient-focused, consumer-friendly tools that make it easy to track resupply timelines, reorder supplies and keep personal data up to date. Right out of the gate, it will be necessary to use ever-advancing technologies to our advantage to influence patient acquisition and retention.

Finally, diabetes manufacturers are continuing to advance their offerings to incorporate technology such as AI, apps, electronic health record integrations and more. As an industry, we must be ready to support the adoption of new technologies so we can help aid education and troubleshooting during a patient’s entire condition management journey.

3. Avoiding Care Cycle Disruptions

Inventory strategy is critical in avoiding care cycle disruptions for resupply. It goes without saying that when a patient doesn’t receive supplies on time during their resupply cycle, the outcome could be devastating or even life-threatening in a population using CGM for treatment decisions like insulin dosing. Inventory strategy and planning are at the heart of resupply, helping enable consistent access to necessary supplies and technologies.

Because many CGM sensors shut off after a 10- to 15-day wear-time, quick fulfillment and shipment anywhere in the country helps ensure patients have their order before their current cycle ends. Proactive inventory planning and manufacturer strategies will help HME providers avoid supply gaps for their customers. Collaborating with a distributor with a robust supply chain with nationwide inventory capacity can help smaller HME providers provide timely, reliable supplies, which is especially critical if supply disruptions take place industrywide.

4. Reimbursement Requirements

Reimbursement requirements are becoming increasingly complex. For most people, staying on diabetes therapy is a lifelong requirement. These patients will need continued support throughout their diabetes management journey.

We continue to see regulatory and policy changes aimed at improving risk, compliance and efficiency in the HME space. However, billing for these types of products is complex—especially with patients covered under federal plans—and reimbursement is dependent upon the thoroughness of medical documentation on file with the prescriber.

Working with an HME provider that has deep expertise in diabetes supplies billing can help prescribers maintain their patients’ eligibility. Technology platforms that support renewals and supplies shipments are a critical consideration here to help stay ahead of insurance requirements before a patient’s supply runs out.

Capturing Growth Through Preparation

Diabetes remains one of the most significant and fastest‑growing segments in the HME industry—and this trajectory is poised to continue well into the future as more people require tools to both measure and manage blood sugar.

To meet rising demand, HME providers must prioritize exceptional patient experience, consistent resupply performance and reliable access to the innovations that make managing this chronic condition more streamlined and sustainable. Advancing automation, designing resupply programs around the full patient journey and strengthening payer and manufacturer collaboration will all be essential.

As this portion of the industry expands, those who embrace these priorities now will be best equipped to capture growth and deliver meaningful value to patients.

As vice president of business development and commercial expansion for Cardinal Health at Home Solutions, Krysta Alexinas is a driving force behind the business’s advancement in homecare, with a focus on consumer access to metabolic health solutions. Visit newsroom.cardinalhealth.com.