Omnipod 5 Offers Better Value Than Daily Injections for Swedish Adults With Type 1 Diabetes

Researchers in Sweden compared the cost and health outcomes of Omnipod 5, an automated insulin delivery system, with multiple daily injections (MDI) combined with continuous glucose monitoring. The analysis took the perspective of Sweden's healthcare system, examining both direct medical costs and broader societal costs like work absences. The study used data from a clinical trial called RADIANT along with established models for predicting long-term diabetes complications over a 50-year timeframe.

Omnipod 5 met Sweden's cost-effectiveness threshold, meaning the health benefits gained justified the investment from a healthcare system perspective. Users gained an average of 3.82 additional quality-adjusted life-years—a measure that combines life expectancy with quality of life. The automated system was associated with lower rates of diabetes-related complications compared to daily injections.

Although Omnipod 5 costs more to use than injections, these higher expenses were balanced by savings in two main areas: fewer complications requiring treatment, and reduced work absences among users. When counting direct healthcare costs alone, the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year was 201,161 SEK. When including societal costs like productivity loss, this dropped to 179,247 SEK per quality-adjusted life-year.

Researchers tested whether their conclusions held up when they changed various assumptions in their model, such as differences in starting blood sugar levels and different time horizons for the analysis. Omnipod 5 remained cost-effective across these different scenarios, suggesting the findings are robust to real-world variation.

This Swedish analysis adds to the growing body of evidence that automated insulin delivery systems can offer meaningful benefits beyond daily management. The study is one piece of information that healthcare systems and payers may consider when evaluating access to these technologies. Individual circumstances vary widely, and decisions about insulin delivery methods involve personal preferences, lifestyle factors, and local healthcare policies.

Source: Diabetes, obesity & metabolism. Evidence type: PubMed indexed literature. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.