Obesity inflates home diagnostics market
By HME News Staff
Updated Sun June 1, 2003
June 2, 2003
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - The rising obesity rate in the United States fueled the home diagnostic industry's 15% growth in 2002 to $2.6 billion, with glucose testing and monitoring accounting for $2.1 billion of those sales, according to a new report by Frost & Sullivan.
With diabetes having a direct link to obesity and the rate of obesity growing in the United States, a spike in glucose testing and monitoring kits is to be expected, say industry sources.
Additionally, at a cost ranging from $20 to $150 for monitors, depending on additional features, and about $1 each for the test strips, depending on the bulk purchased, home diagnostics is becoming more affordable. Technology also now allows test results to be sent electronically to a physician, making preventative care easier to accomplish.
Additionally, as obesity increases, so does patient awareness. With home diagnostic kits more available, affordable and user friendly, patients are taking control of their health, say industry watchers.
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