Diabetes Technology and Waste: A Real-World Study in a Specialized Practice in Germany
Authors' conclusion
Our data revealed the amount and complexity of the waste generated by modern diabetes therapy. Extrapolating these data, it can be estimated that around 1.2 billion pieces of diabetes technology waste are generated in Germany per year. The major concern of the study participants was the limited number of recycling options. A clear demand for improved sustainability of the medical products was expressed.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with diabetes on insulin treatment in a specialized diabetes practice in Germany
- Participants
- 80 patients
- Outcome
- Quantity of therapy-associated diabetes technology waste
- Follow-up
- Three months
Methodological detailssingle specialized diabetes practice, survey
- Single specialized diabetes practice
- Survey
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Therapy-associated waste collected
- Total pieces of therapy-associated waste
- 23 707
- Test strips
- 5362
- Glucose sensors
- 630
- Needles
- 14 619
- Insulin cartridges
- 519
- Pens
- 599
- Pieces of aids for insulin pump therapy
- 1463
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Survey of attitudes toward waste
- Surprised by the amounts of waste
- 92%
- Increased awareness of resource consumption of therapy
- 87%
- Enhanced interest in waste separation
- 94%
- Demand for reduction and recycling of devices/aids
- 93%
Original publication
Diabetes Technology and Waste: A Real-World Study in a Specialized Practice in Germany. J Diabetes Sci Technol. Published 5 June 2024. doi:10.
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