Direct-to-Consumer Testing: Relevance for Diabetes Therapy

Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, pp. 19322968251347970

Abstract

The performance of laboratory measurements by the people with diabetes (PwD) themselves (“direct-to-consumer testing”; DTCT) is conceptually not new for diabetology. The number of parameters for which such tests are available might increase in the next years, ie, it might go beyond glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA 1c ). One has to consider several pro and con arguments for DTCT. Appropriate training of the users is a key issue for the meaningful usage of DTCT. Artificial intelligence (AI) might change the way the results of such tests might be used in daily life for the optimization of diabetes therapy. The decision to what extent DTCT will be used will not be made by the health care professional (HCP) but by the PwD themselves. If they see a relevant advantage for themselves in DTCT, this option will become popular.

Authors 2

1. Malte Jacobsen Aachen Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine Medical Faculty

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical Faculty, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Aachen, Germany

2. Lutz Heinemann corresponding
   Affiliation as printed

   Science Consulting in Diabetes GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany