We need to tackle the increasing mountain of wasted plastic and cardboard from diabetes technologies

For people living with diabetes, access to an insulin pump or sensing technologies such as continuous glucose monitors is life changing. Yet there is a downside—the mounting piles of plastic, paper, and cardboard that each device comes with. This packaging is becoming a worry to users, particularly those who are environmentally conscious. With every delivery of diabetes technology supplies comes several, often oversized, cardboard boxes. Each cannula, reservoir, or sensor is wrapped in plastic to maintain sterility.The number of people living with type 1 diabetes around the world is increasing, and is predicted to rise from 8.4 million to 17.4 million by 2040. While the number of people with diabetes increases, the number of people accessing and using diabetes technology is increasing even faster. Emerging technologies such as hybrid closed loop (HCL) systems will only increase these numbers. Alistair Lumb, speaking at the annual Diabetes Technology Network of which he…
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