For the past few months, thanks to a book on the subject, invitations to “make your glucose revolution” have multiplied on social networks. With the high point, the glucose sensor worn continuously, for the purpose of… weight loss!
The National Assembly recently looked into the subject of these influencers who promote glucose sensors to measure and control blood sugar, with the aim of losing weight. Continuous glucose sensors were there as well presented “as ‘life style’ tools, discrediting patients with diabetes for whom these medical devices are prescribed as part of a treatment”, specified at the end of March, the French Federation of Diabetics (FFD). Which was offended by these “misuses (…), real potentially dangerous scourges”.
And for good reason, during the parliamentary debates, Nathalie Bassire (Réunion) recalled that “the promotion of medical devices and drugs not reimbursed by Social Security, such as continuous glucose sensors, used for personal comfort purposes by certain influencers (does) thus run the risk of a supply disruption. that these products are essential to the health of people with diabetes”.
Specific terms of prescription
This resulted in a law promulgated on June 9, aimed at regulating commercial influence and combating the excesses of influencers on social networks. With the aim of better combating “certain abuses and scams noted: incitement to dangerous diets, cosmetic surgery, excessive bets, promotion of counterfeits…”, specifies the government on the portal vie-publique.fr.
Remember that these sensors are intended for diabetic patients who “still fail to control their diabetes, despite multi-daily blood glucose self-monitoring and intensified insulin therapy”, slides the FFD. And to conclude: the prescription of such a system “responds to very specific prescription indications and treatment methods: medical profile of patients, initiation period with initial technical training and mandatory evaluation”.