- Messages
- 4
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Dear all, I'm a PhD candidate in moral philosophy and have just published an article (freely available via open access) that might be of interest to you.
In the article, I review evidence of the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for self-management of type 1 diabetes. Since CGM is expensive and not currently covered by insurance, the only people who can use it are those who qualify for – often very limited – hospital provision, or those who can privately afford it. I argue that there are a number of moral reasons why unequal access to CGM is unjust. It can result in: 1) unjust health inequalities, 2) relational injustice, 3) injustice with regard to agency and autonomy, and 4) epistemic injustice. I conclude that, all things considered, CGM should be covered by basic health care insurance in the Netherlands.
Some of the arguments are slightly technical, but I have done my best to explain them carefully and to make the article accessible for a wide audience. While I make a specific case for insurance in the Netherlands, my arguments about justice can be used to motivate providing access to CGM in other settings as well.
I'll be happy to answer any questions that you might have! I have type 1 myself, and have been fortunate to be able to use the Dexcom system. I hope that my article will contribute to making CGM technology available to many more, and ideally all, people with diabetes.
I have attached a PDF of the article, which you can also read/download/share online at: doi(dot)org/10.1007/s10730-020-09413-9.
In the article, I review evidence of the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for self-management of type 1 diabetes. Since CGM is expensive and not currently covered by insurance, the only people who can use it are those who qualify for – often very limited – hospital provision, or those who can privately afford it. I argue that there are a number of moral reasons why unequal access to CGM is unjust. It can result in: 1) unjust health inequalities, 2) relational injustice, 3) injustice with regard to agency and autonomy, and 4) epistemic injustice. I conclude that, all things considered, CGM should be covered by basic health care insurance in the Netherlands.
Some of the arguments are slightly technical, but I have done my best to explain them carefully and to make the article accessible for a wide audience. While I make a specific case for insurance in the Netherlands, my arguments about justice can be used to motivate providing access to CGM in other settings as well.
I'll be happy to answer any questions that you might have! I have type 1 myself, and have been fortunate to be able to use the Dexcom system. I hope that my article will contribute to making CGM technology available to many more, and ideally all, people with diabetes.
I have attached a PDF of the article, which you can also read/download/share online at: doi(dot)org/10.1007/s10730-020-09413-9.