24KIT
sets or pumps/pods, the largest
share (40%) of all respondents
complained of redness, while
itchiness (32%) and lumps or
bumps at the site (31%) were also
significantly reported.
However, as with the CGMs, only
a small share (10%) of the whole
sample always or sometimes used
a barrier product to avoid skin
irritation when they applied an
infusion set or pumps/pods, with
the majority (40%) never using them
and another 50% claiming that they
did not know about the existence
of these products. Those that did
use them were slightly more likely
to use a barrier spray (6% of all
respondents) than a wipe (5%).
Feeling stuck?
Once again, there were few major
complaints about the quality of
adhesion of the infusion sets and
other tech: only 1% of the whole
sample reported that these items
never stayed on for the full number
of days that they were meant to
(i.e. 3 days). Indeed, as many as
55% claimed that they always or
sometimes stayed on for the full
duration. However, there was some
use among the respondents of extra
adhesive patches or tape to secure
the infusion sets or pumps/pods in
place: 8% of the whole sample always
used these, and 16% sometimes did
- although as many as 31% had never
used such patches.
As with the CGMs, the majority
of those wearing infusion sets or
pumps/pods (45% of the whole
sample) indicated that adhesive
residue was always or sometimes
left behind on the skin after removal.
Once again, removing the infusion
sets or pumps/pods also required
some assistance for a number of
respondents: 15% of the whole
sample always or sometimes used an
adhesive remover to detach these
items (although 42% never did and
as many as 44% did not know about
adhesive removers) and the greater
share (9%) of all respondents used a
wipe rather than a spray (7%) for this
task.
Skin protection
Dina Avyidi, Senior Product Manager
with CliniMed, comments on the
survey results saying, "Our skin
is often overlooked in the daily
management of diabetes especially
when it comes to wearing diabetes
tech on the body. These results
confirm what we long suspected,
that there is a widespread gap
in awareness about specialised
skincare solutions for individuals
using Continuous Glucose Monitors
(CGMs) and insulin pumps."
She goes on to say, "The data
reveals that very few people know
about or use barrier products to
protect their skin before applying a
sensor or infusion set, despite the
skin being the largest protective
organ of the body. Furthermore,
many struggle with leftover adhesive
residue and are unaware that
adhesive removers exist to ease the
often-difficult removal process. This
isn't about blaming the technology
or the user; it's about embracing a
positive and proactive approach to
skin health.
"Here at CliniMed we are
committed to helping people to
'protect the skin they are in' by
promoting the knowledge and use
of these products that make the
application, wearing, and removal
of these clever devices more
comfortable and kinder to the skin."
Many struggle with
leftover adhesive
residue and are
unaware that
adhesive removers
exist to ease the
often-difficult
removal process"
- Dina Avyidi,
CliniMed
CliniMed's adhesive remover swabs.