Doctors treating patients with type 1 diabetes are interpreting complex data generated by modern glucose monitoring devices without specific remuneration, say the authors of a consensus statement on new technologies.

While bringing benefits to many patients, technologies such as insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) require ongoing detailed management discussions between doctors and patients, the leading endocrinologists say.

“Reports from current generation [devices] provide large volumes of complex data but do not currently have specific MBS item numbers to remunerate health care professionals for the significant amount of additional time required to interpret them or alter management,” they write.

The expertise required to manage the technologies should also be taken into account for service provider credentialling and accreditation, according to the statement, published in the Medical Journal of Australia on Monday.