<b>Quantifying Environmental Waste from Diabetes Devices in the United States</b>

<p dir="ltr"><b>Objective:</b> In 2018, the average U.S. individual generated 147 pounds of solid waste per month.¹ Diabetes devices, including CGM and insulin pumps, may significantly impact environmental sustainability and long-term resilience.</p><p dir="ltr"><b>Research Design and Methods</b>: This observational study enrolled 49 adults with diabetes using CGM, insulin pumps, or multiple daily injections (MDI, ≥3/day). Participants completed daily surveys detailing the types and amounts of diabetes-related waste discarded.</p><p dir="ltr"><b>Results:</b> Of the 49 participants, 11 used MDI and 38 used insulin pumps. Most were female (63%), White (80%), had a bachelor’s degree (90%), lived in suburban/urban areas (86%), and were under 65 years (78%). Average monthly waste was 2.7 pounds for pumps and 3.1 pounds for MDIs. Diabetes-related products contribute nearly 2% of household waste.</p><p dir="ltr"><b>Conclusions:</b> This study highlights the importance of improving recycling methods and reducing waste from diabetes devices.</p>