Insulin pens and the digital ecosystem

Insulin has been used for over a century for the treatment of diabetes and, since the mid-1980s, there has been a rapid development of insulin administration tools. Over the last decade, several medical products used for diabetes management have been connected to a digital ecosystem. This connectivity includes sophisticated monitoring of not only glucose levels but also of insulin delivery (type, dose, time of dosing). It facilitates interactions between people with diabetes, various diabetes technology devices and healthcare professionals. This white paper aims to discuss and categorise different types of insulin pens, connected insulin pens and caps, as well as smart insulin pen systems (SPSs) that are available on the market. Connected pens capture data to provide information about the details of the insulin applied. SPSs are paired with a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system and, by means of integrated algorithms, can provide individualised dose calculation based on a variety of factors. These SPSs can also recommend insulin doses based on current and projected glucose and insulin data; this feature requires a connection to a CGM system. Yet what are the clinical advantages of SPSs? What added value does this system bring to individuals living with diabetes and their healthcare providers? In a narrative review, we discuss the current regulatory pathways and market environment as well as the influencing factors of connected insulin pens vs SPSs. We aim to provide a rationale and justification for this categorisation based on (smart) design aspects, regulatory considerations and clinical outcomes. This review concludes that while standard insulin pens remain a safe and commonly offered option, connected insulin pens and SPSs are likely to show improvement in glycaemic management, treatment adherence and patient satisfaction, and represent a significant advancement in diabetes care. However, further research including high-quality clinical and health economic studies will be vital in substantiating the value of both connected insulin pens and SPSs and driving broader acceptance among payers and healthcare systems.