OBJECTIVE

Diabetes devices, including continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps, may significantly affect environmental sustainability and long-term resilience.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This observational study enrolled 49 adults with diabetes using CGMs, insulin pumps, or multiple daily injections (MDIs; three or more per day). Participants completed daily surveys detailing the types and amounts of diabetes-related waste discarded.

RESULTS

Of the 49 participants, 11 used MDIs and 38 used insulin pumps. Most were female (63%), were White (80%), had a bachelor’s degree (90%), lived in suburban/urban areas (86%), and were aged <65 years (78%). Average monthly waste was 2.7 lbs for pumps and 3.1 lbs for MDIs. Diabetes-related products contributed nearly 2% of household waste.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the importance of improving recycling methods and reducing waste from diabetes devices.

Graphical Abstract

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Clinical trial reg. no. NCT06071325, clinicaltrials.gov

This article contains supplementary material online at https://doi.org/10.2337/figshare.28452170.

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© 2025 by the American Diabetes Association
2025
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