World-first home diabetes screening for people with cystic fibrosis launched

Digostics and NHS Highland have announced a pioneering partnership introducing the world’s first home-based oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) service for people requiring cystic fibrosis diabetes (CFD) screening. 

The collaboration sees NHS Highland use Digostics’ GTT@home managed service, meaning people living with cystic fibrosis can access vital diabetes screening in the Highland region without the need for travel.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) affects more than 10,800 people in the UK, with CFD emerging as one of the most common complications in adolescents and adults with the condition.

Annual screening using the OGTT is recommended for early detection and management. However, given the complexities of the test – overnight fasting, an initial blood test, the immediate consumption of a glucose drink and a second blood test after a two hour wait – all OGTTs have either been conducted in Inverness or required a clinician to travel to an individual’s home.

Lesley Blaikie, Cystic Fibrosis Nurse Specialist at NHS Highland, said: “We piloted this new way of working for three months and it was really well received by our patients with all of them reporting that they felt comfortable doing the test at home and that it improved their experience. It is a game-changer for our patients.

“The geography of the Highlands and the inherent complexities of in-clinic OGTT have always posed challenges in ensuring our patients are able to be screened on time.”

She added: “With GTT@home, we can now offer diabetes screening to every eligible CF patient exactly when it is required, and in doing so, maximise the window for effective intervention when diabetes is detected.

“By enabling patients to complete the OGTT from the comfort of their own homes, GTT@home eliminates the need for long-distance travel, free up hospital resources and ensures more equitable and timely access to care.”

This marks the first time globally that home-based OGTT has been used for routine CFD screening.

GTT@home is the world’s first and only home OGTT test kit. The kit includes the novel GTT@home test device, a preformulated glucose drink and test finger prickers.

People are guided through the process with multilingual instructions, video tutorials and real-time support, the blood samples are analysed immediately and results are securely shared with their clinical team via a mobile app.

Given the heightened risk of cross-infection among individuals with cystic fibrosis, it is clinically undesirable to bring people onsite unless absolutely necessary. Minimising hospital visits is a key priority in safeguarding their health.

James Jackson, CEO and Founder of Digostics, commented: “We’re proud to partner with NHS Highland on this landmark initiative and congratulate the team for breaking new ground in cystic fibrosis care.

“This new application of GTT@home for cystic fibrosis diabetes is a natural and important evolution. It’s about bringing care to the patient, not the other way around.”

This partnership builds on the already successful use of GTT@home for gestational diabetes screening, where the technology has significantly improved test uptake, reduced missed diagnoses and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both patients and clinicians.

GTT@home is also being piloted via various UK, European and North American research collaborations to help improve the accessibility and accuracy of type 1 diabetes screening and staging of infants and adolescents.