What's Next For Diabetes Technology in 2025?
Possible advancements in CGM, RPM, AI, and more.
Diabetes management often involves a combination of medications, healthy eating and physical activity. Yet, in what ways can patients maximize these interventions to get the most out of them? How can providers and patients properly evaluate treatment suggestions to determine whether or not they’re truly beneficial? Well, one way to do both is by implementing diabetes technology.
In the last few years, we’ve seen an influx of technology adopted to aid disease management. These include telehealth solutions, like virtual visits, remote patient monitoring (RPM), smart insulin pens and smartphone applications. In just a short time, we’ve witnessed tech tools transform how healthcare is performed, but what can we expect in 2025?
Below, we’ll assess what’s on the horizon for diabetes technology in 2025 so you can gear up for future changes.
Diabetes technology history: 5th century B.C. to 2015
500 BC - 1960: Urine testing
Before we look ahead, let’s quickly discuss how far we’ve come. In 5th century B.C., checking whether or not someone’s glucose levels were elevated was a matter of tasting their urine. If their levels were raised, their urine would likely be sweet, indicating that they may have diabetes (or sugar sickness). Thankfully, we’ve come a long way since then.
1960s: First insulin pump
In the 1960s, the first I.V. insulin pump was launched, providing continuous insulin infusion. However, it was considered impractical because it was nearly the size of an army backpack. Fast-forward to the 1970s, when the first glucose meter and continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) were introduced. The latter was a significant upgrade to the insulin pump.
1999: Continuous Glucose Monitoring
In 1999, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first device for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), which we’ll see more of in 2025. By 2006, we saw the breakthrough of sensor-augmented pump therapy, a combination of real-time CGM and insulin pump therapy.
2015: First hybrid closed-loop (HCL) system
Intermittently scanned CGM (isCGM) came about in 2014, allowing for the continuous measurement of glucose levels but requiring scanning to store glucose values. That next year, in 2015, the first hybrid closed-loop (HCL) system came out. HCLs link CGM with insulin pump technology to automatically adjust insulin delivery to those with type 1 diabetes, eliminating the need for finger-prick tests.
What does diabetes technology look like in 2025?
The continuous advancement we’ve seen in diabetes technology will only continue in 2025 and beyond. Nonetheless, regardless of how much diabetes technology has evolved, it hasn’t been as widely implemented as one might expect.
As mentioned in the Summer 2023 issue of the Clinical Diabetes publication, “Despite evidence of improved diabetes outcomes with diabetes technology […] these devices are underutilized in clinical practice for the management of insulin-requiring diabetes.”
They go on to explain that adoption is limited to just a small proportion of people with diabetes, which may be a result of limitations in clinician knowledge. Healthcare providers may hesitate to prescribe or offer this technology because some don’t know how to initiate and/or monitor it.
Fortunately, with updates in the 2025 release of The American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) “Standards of Care in Diabetes” publication, we may see adoption increase in 2025.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring
In the 2025 Standards of Care in Diabetes issue, experts recommended, for the first time, using CGMs in patients with type 2 diabetes, whether they’re on insulin or not. CGMs are primarily used for managing type 1 diabetes, so seeing this expansion is interesting.
This update, and others provided by the ADA, are based on scientific research, with them mentioning that CGM use may reduce the risk of serious complications, like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and diabetes-related coma.
Insurance coverage and over-the-counter CGMs may expand
Currently, Medicare and several other payers only cover CGMs for those who use insulin or are at risk for hypoglycemia. With this ADA update, though, we may see insurance coverage expand to those using CGMs and not taking insulin in 2025 or later. We expect an uptick in over-the-counter CGM use as well, especially after the FDA approved the first over-the-counter CGM device, the Dexcom Stelo Glucose Biosensor System, in March 2024.
More support for disposable CGMs and AID systems
Disposable CGMs are also gaining popularity. In Europe, Medtronic’s MiniMed™ 780G System with Simplera Sync™ disposable, all-in-one sensor was approved and launched in 2020. Since then, it has been Europe's most utilized automated insulin delivery (AID) system.
This savvy system can automatically adjust and correct glucose levels every five minutes. It’s also the world’s only system with a Meal Detection feature, meant to decrease post-meal hyperglycemia, which occurs when an individual misjudges the amount of carbohydrates in a meal or forgets to administer insulin.
The CGM was FDA-approved in the United States in August 2024, and the InPen™ app received FDA clearance on November 20. We may see the entire AID system roll out in 2025.
Open-source, closed-loop AID systems
The ADA also shows support in their 2025 Standards of Care in Diabetes publication for open-source, closed-loop AID systems (OS-AID), stating that healthcare providers should aid patients in optimizing their settings to ensure that they’re safe and effective.
These open-source, closed-loop AID systems (previously called DIY systems) were developed by individuals with type 1 diabetes and their loved ones, who were unhappy with the momentum of innovation for AID systems. If patients have an insulin pump, CGM, a controller, and a translator between the pump and CGM, they can create their own OS-AID application.
While they’re not FDA-approved and are largely considered experimental, OS-AID systems are gaining support. As a result, we may see more of this type of diabetes technology in 2025.
Remote patient monitoring
RPM is a facet of telehealth that has become integral to diabetes management. This solution allows for the retrieval of medical data from patients in one location and the electronic transmission of it to healthcare providers in another area.
Expanding reimbursable services
CGM enables RPM, so as the former advances, it’s likely that the latter will too. We’re actually seeing new rulings put in place to accommodate these changes. For example, CMS mentioned in the 2025 Physician Fee Schedule that they’ll be splitting HCPCS code G0511 into distinct payments based on the care management service provided.
This update will allow federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and rural health clinics (RHCs) to expand the flexibility and number of reimbursable services related to care management and remote monitoring programs. That’s important since patients in these settings often face barriers to care and are more likely to utilize RPMs.
Heightened data security measures
Because wearable diabetes technology is growing and the prevalence of this chronic disease is increasing, organizations will capture a lot more patient data. Therefore, we foresee that RPM companies will take additional steps to ensure their software meets regulatory compliance requirements and other security measures.
Artificial intelligence(AI) in diabetes treatment
As noted in one article, “AI significantly impacts various aspects of diabetes management, including advanced diagnostics, predictive modeling, and personalized patient care.” However, while true, there have been several challenges to implementing AI for diabetes care and other chronic conditions. This is mainly because the advancement of AI applications has been constrained by factors like economic considerations, competing priorities and data concerns.
As the industry continues to work on those obstacles, health AI development should start gaining traction in 2025. Yet, as mentioned in Wolters Kluwer, “actual changes next year will likely be incremental.” It’s believed that 2025 will set the stage for AI in the years to come.
Generative AI
Over the last year, there’s been a lot of talk about the potential of GenAI, a form of AI that can create text, images, videos and audio. In 2025, we may finally see its abilities shift from potential to practical value, with organizations likely carrying out system-wide AI strategies.
It’s anticipated to play a pivotal role in patient care by offering a human touch, but clear guidelines on what constitutes responsible GenAI will be essential.As it relates to diabetes care, this could look like GenAI analyzing a patient's health data and offering them customized prevention techniques.
Virtual visits and coaching for diabetes management
The synergism between wearable technology and RPM highlights the expansive movement toward a more connected and efficient healthcare ecosystem. However, to ensure patients get the most out of these interventions, we need patient-provider check-ins, and telehealth solutions make that conveniently possible.
The 2025 Standards of Care in Diabetes actually suggests that providers combine technology, like insulin pumps and CGM, with online or virtual coaching to improve glycemic outcomes in those with diabetes or prediabetes.
One study found that telemedicine enhances patient self-management and clinical outcomes while increasing point-of-care for providers. This supports better clinical decision-making and improves patient outcomes. Therefore, based on the ADA’s recommendation, we expect more online programs and digital health apps for diabetes management in 2025.
A Frontiers article highlighted a digital health tool featuring AI coaching for individuals enrolled in a virtual diabetes program.. Although there were only 71 participants, 77% experienced significant weight loss, and some noticed reduced systolic blood pressure. With AI development poised to increase in 2025, we anticipate seeing more AI and telehealth integrations next year.
Your partner in delivering virtual diabetes management
When it comes to what’s next for diabetes technology in 2025, two words come to mind: connection and collaboration.
The interoperability of diabetes devices will become paramount as the healthcare industry transitions to providing more efficient and cost-effective chronic care management. The alliance between patients and providers should strengthen thanks to additional points of care. Yet, none of these things are possible without a strong digital health foundation.
Companies that don’t embrace and adapt to the mentioned changes in diabetes technology will find themselves behind. If you’re looking to stay ahead in healthcare delivery, partner with OpenLoop. We provide the complete, white-labeled infrastructure required to support your digital health initiatives. You bring the patients, and we handle the rest.
Interested in learning more? Contact us today!
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