ARTICLE SUMMARY:
Medtronic’s plan to exit the diabetes device market via spin-off could have major implications for the competitive landscape. But even though the landscape is shifting, growth indicators remain strong as pump competitors Insulet and Tandem Diabetes Care make inroads into type 2 diabetes, Dexcom and Abbott tap new opportunities for CGMs, and newcomers line up with device innovations of their own.
As a medtech growth leader, the diabetes device market continues to attract considerable interest and investment. But staying competitive in this rapidly evolving, patient-focused arena requires flexibility, ongoing innovation, and a long-term vision focused on continuously improving the user experience.
Shifts in this market over the past decade have already been dramatic, with the growing adoption of tech-heavy solutions such as automated insulin delivery systems (AIDs) and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs)—now considered standard of care for many people. And ongoing advances in sensor technologies and AI-driven predictive algorithms promise much more to come.
At the same time, the diabetes device market is on the cusp of a major expansion as new opportunities emerge for AIDs in type 2 diabetes and for CGMs in the prediabetes and health and wellness over-the-counter markets. (See “ADA 2024: The Beat Goes On,” MedTech Strategist, July 30, 2024.)
Against this backdrop, the competitive landscape is also shifting. Innovative new AID systems from Beta Bionics and Sequel Med Tech, for example, are entering the US market and could increase the competitive pressure on market leaders Insulet, Tandem Diabetes Care, and Medtronic. And a similar scenario could play out in the future for CGM leaders Dexcom and Abbott as new CGM devices potentially reach the market from Roche (discussed below) and others.
