In April 2025, the U.S. authorities introduced sweeping tariffs on worldwide imports, together with a 20% tariff on items from the European Union. For folks with diabetes, this shift could have a serious affect on healthcare spending.
Whereas the headlines have centered on vehicles and metal, one space usually ignored is medical expertise—particularly, diabetes administration units like steady glucose displays (CGMs), insulin pumps, and glucose meters.
Whereas it’s nonetheless early, folks with diabetes haven’t felt the shockwaves of those modifications. Nonetheless, these modifications might straight have an effect on the fee and accessibility of important diabetes tech, which might already be out of attain for a lot of diabetes sufferers.
It’s additionally necessary to notice: it’s nonetheless early on this shift. We’ll solely know extra because the scenario evolves, however we wish to hear your expertise. Go away a remark to share your expertise, and the way you consider issues could or could not change.
We’ll dive into which diabetes tech corporations may very well be affected, the place their merchandise are made, and what this implies for you.
The place diabetes tech merchandise are made and the way tariffs could affect their worth.
Listed here are among the mostly used units. Whereas this isn’t a complete listing of accessible units in the US, it does embrace frequent ones.
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mannkindcorp.com
Headquarters: Connecticut, USA
Key Merchandise: Afrezza Inhaled Insulin
Manufacturing Places: Connecticut, USA
Tariff Influence: No vital affect as a consequence of U.S.-based manufacturing.
MannKind gives one of many few inhalable insulin choices available on the market. With manufacturing rooted solely within the U.S., the corporate is well-insulated from the ripple results of worldwide commerce coverage—at the least for now.
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www.lifescan.com
Headquarters: Pennsylvania, USA & Switzerland
Key Merchandise: OneTouch Glucose Meters
Manufacturing Places: Scotland, Canada, Puerto Rico
Tariff Influence: Merchandise made in Scotland might even see a worth enhance as a consequence of EU tariffs.
LifeScan’s OneTouch merchandise are staples in lots of diabetes administration routines. Their manufacturing unfold consists of each U.S. territories and Europe, which means the affect of tariffs will fluctuate relying on the place particular merchandise are sourced.
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www.senseonics.com
Headquarters: Maryland, USA
Key Merchandise: Eversense Implantable CGM
Manufacturing Places: Partnered globally
Tariff Influence: Relying on companion areas, some imports could also be topic to tariffs.
Senseonics is understood for its distinctive implantable CGM expertise. Though primarily based within the U.S., the corporate depends on manufacturing partnerships abroad, which might expose them—and sufferers—to tariff-related pricing shifts.
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www.ascensia.com
Headquarters: Switzerland
Key Merchandise: Contour Glucose Meters
Manufacturing Places: International
Tariff Influence: EU and Asian manufacturing could result in larger prices for U.S. patrons.
Shaped after buying Bayer’s diabetes care division, Ascensia gives widely-used glucose meters and strips. With manufacturing rooted in a number of international locations, together with these doubtlessly impacted by tariffs, price and entry considerations could also be on the horizon
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www.tandemdiabetes.com
Headquarters: California, USA
Key Merchandise: t:slim X2 Insulin Pump
Manufacturing Places: Primarily U.S.
Tariff Influence: Minimal affect as a consequence of home manufacturing.
Tandem is understood for smooth design and integration with CGM methods. As a result of their manufacturing stays largely U.S.-based, they’re in a greater place to keep away from the results of worldwide tariffs and will change into a extra secure choice for sufferers trying to keep away from rising prices. Tandem, nevertheless, is likely one of the costlier insulin pump choices obtainable.
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www.roche.com
Headquarters: Basel, Switzerland
Key Merchandise: Accu-Chek Gadgets
Manufacturing Places: Europe, U.S., and Asia
Tariff Influence: Gadgets manufactured in Europe could face tariffs, affecting costs within the U.S.
Roche has been a long-standing title in diabetes care, particularly with blood glucose meters and insulin supply methods. Their worldwide presence means they’re susceptible to international commerce insurance policies, and U.S. shoppers might see modifications in worth or availability.
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www.insulet.com
Headquarters: Massachusetts, USA
Key Merchandise: Omnipod Insulin Supply Methods
Manufacturing Places: USA and overseas
Tariff Influence: Tariffs might enhance prices relying on the place machine elements are sourced and assembled.
Insulet’s Omnipod system has revolutionized tubeless insulin supply. Whereas its headquarters and a part of its manufacturing are U.S.-based, any internationally sourced elements should fall underneath the scope of latest tariffs, complicating pricing and provide chain stability.
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www.medtronic.com
Headquarters: Dublin, Eire
Key Merchandise: MiniMed Insulin Pumps, Guardian CGMs
Manufacturing Places: International, together with Europe and Asia
Tariff Influence: As an EU-based firm, Medtronic is prone to see price will increase for U.S. imports.
Medtronic is a powerhouse in medical expertise and a serious participant in insulin pump remedy. As a result of it is headquartered within the EU and manufactures many merchandise overseas, these new tariffs might considerably affect the provision and price of Medtronic merchandise for U.S. clients.
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www.dexcom.com
Dexcom, Inc.
Headquarters: California, USA
Key Merchandise: Dexcom G6, G7 CGMs
Manufacturing Places: USA, Malaysia, Eire
Tariff Influence: Gadgets made in Malaysia and Eire might see worth hikes as a consequence of tariffs, except manufacturing shifts domestically.
Dexcom is understood for innovation in CGM expertise, particularly for folks managing diabetes with insulin. With a worldwide footprint in manufacturing, together with key services in Eire and Malaysia, the corporate could face stress to extend costs or shift manufacturing to keep away from larger prices.
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www.abbott.com
Headquarters: Illinois, USA
Key Merchandise: FreeStyle Libre CGM
Manufacturing Places: Kilkenny, Eire
Tariff Influence: Merchandise imported from Eire into the U.S. could also be topic to a 20% tariff, doubtlessly rising the retail price of FreeStyle Libre methods.
Context: Abbott is likely one of the international leaders in medical units, and their FreeStyle Libre CGM has change into a widely-used, inexpensive choice for steady glucose monitoring. With manufacturing centered in Eire for these units, the corporate—and shoppers—might see vital results from tariffs concentrating on EU imports.
For many individuals with diabetes, entry to tech like CGMs and insulin pumps will not be a luxurious—it’s a necessity that improves high quality of life and total well being outcomes. If corporations move the price of these tariffs on to shoppers, the outcome may very well be:
- Larger out-of-pocket prices, ballooning the price of diabetes look after sufferers.
- Delays in insurance coverage approval or formulary protection. Insurance coverage charges is also affected to maintain up with price.
- Elevated disparities in entry to life-saving units. Marginalized communities1 are already affected by a scarcity of entry to diabetes expertise and instruments.
- Extra stress on affected person help applications. Affected person help applications have helped to bridge a spot, principally for the commercially insured.
Whereas some corporations could take in the prices or shift manufacturing to tariff-free areas, others could not have that flexibility.
Speak to Your Insurance coverage Supplier
Whereas we don’t have the luxurious of stocking further provides with insurance coverage limits, give your insurance coverage firm a name. Ask:
- Are any coated units being eliminated or changed as a consequence of worth modifications?
- Are there various CGMs or pumps now most well-liked by your plan?
- What’s the appeals course of if you wish to stick along with your present tech?
Professional Tip: Some insurers are sluggish to replace formularies. Be proactive and get every little thing in writing.
Faucet Into Producer Reductions & Help Packages
Some diabetes tech corporations supply monetary assist. If you happen to’re seeing larger costs on the pharmacy counter it’s value it to look into affected person financial savings applications. Most of those applications are solely relevant to industrial insured sufferers (no Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare or uninsured advantages, sadly).
In some instances, you might qualify totally free or discounted provides, particularly in case your earnings falls beneath a sure threshold or should you’re uninsured.
- Examine costs throughout pharmacies and mail-order providers.
- Use instruments like GoodRx or SingleCare for meter take a look at strips and backup provides.
- Think about manufacturer-direct applications which typically supply subscription financial savings.
Heads up: Look ahead to refurbished units on-line. Solely purchase from verified sources.
Discover Assist within the Diabetes Group
You’re not alone! Communities just like the Diabetes On-line Group (#DOC), Reddit’s r/diabetes, Glucose Information and Fb teams usually:
- Share offers, coupons, and recommendation
- Host machine swap occasions or giveaways
- Supply emotional assist in unsure instances
Go Low Tech
Whereas diabetes expertise has labored to vary our lives for the higher, typically downgrading to extra primary instruments for administration could be a little more cost effective.
Bonus: Ask your physician about trials or newer choices with introductory pricing.
Advocate for Inexpensive Entry for EVERYONE With Any Kind of Diabetes
If rising prices are irritating you, make your voice heard:
Tariffs could also be out of our management,, however neighborhood, planning and bracing for affect actually make a distinction. By staying knowledgeable, tapping into obtainable assets, and connecting with others, you possibly can keep one step forward. As a result of nobody ought to have to decide on between their well being and affordability.
References
- Kanbour, Saraha; Everett, Estelleb,c,d. Addressing disparities in expertise use amongst sufferers with kind 1 diabetes: a evaluation. Present Opinion in Endocrinology & Diabetes and Weight problems 31(1):p 14-21, February 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/MED.0000000000000840 ↩︎
