Public Health will provide continuous glucose monitoring devices to pregnant women
Pregnant diabetic women over 22 years of age who require insulin will be able to access a continuous glucose monitoring device, with the aim of preventing the development of diseases and morbidity and mortality in early childhood.
The benefit will reach about 300 women per year and will be provided by the National Resources Fund (FNR), with funding from the Ministry of Public Health (MSP).
Minister Rando explained that the benefit consists of granting a continuous glucose monitoring device to pregnant women over 22 years of age who are affected by type 1 and 2 diabetes, that is, those who are insulin-dependent or require multiple doses of insulin. She added that women who require insulin during pregnancy will also receive coverage and recalled that, in 2023, this device was incorporated for all diabetics up to 21 years of age, so this benefit expands coverage.
She said that the device allows for continuous monitoring of blood glucose in pregnant women, and not just at certain times of the day, which allows for greater effectiveness in controlling the disease and has a favorable impact on disease prevention and the reduction of morbidity and mortality in the mother-child pair. She added that the service extends from the diagnosis of pregnancy to discharge from the hospital.
The minister pointed out that, according to various scientific studies, diabetic mothers who do not carry out frequent blood sugar checks are more likely to develop health complications, both themselves and their babies. In the case of children, they may develop intrauterine growth retardation, congenital malformations and even an increase in fetal deaths and neonatal mortality, in addition to suffering from type 1 and 2 diabetes and insulin resistance more frequently than other children.
The benefit will be granted through the FNR with funding from the MSP through the budget granted in the 2021 Accountability Report for early childhood.
To start the process, the treating specialist must complete an online form before the endocrinology visit, which will be evaluated by the agency’s technical team to determine whether the service is granted or not. If the request is made, coordination will be carried out with the health provider of the requesting woman, who will deliver the device and the required supplies.
