Diabetes Technology Key Focus Areas

Diabetes Technology KEY FOCUS FINDER

Whatever your role, diabetes tech is now part of it.

CGMs, insulin pumps, AID systems, smart pens — diabetes technology now turns up in primary care, inpatient units, the pharmacy counter, schools and camps. Most clinicians were never trained as specialists in any of it.

The Diabetes Technology Key Focus Areas are danatech’s map of what those skills actually look like, broken into parts you can build one at a time.

Why we built this

“Know diabetes tech” is too big to act on. We split the work into ten distinct skill areas so you can see how the whole picture fits together, and where to focus first for your role.

How it’s meant to help

Each area is scoped to a real clinical moment: starting a device, reading the data, knowing when something’s outside your lane. The Focus Finder surfaces the areas most relevant to your role first, so you know where to begin.

The honest version

Start where it matters most for you.

How much of this map applies to you depends on your role and setting. Some roles touch only a few of these areas; others, like diabetes care and education specialists, work across nearly all of them. The Focus Finder reads your role and setting and shows which areas to prioritize first, so you start in the right place rather than everywhere at once.

At a glance

Diabetes Technology Key Focus Areas

Not a sequence — a map of one clinical role. Open any area to see what it covers and the takeaways that anchor it.

These aren’t ranked. Which areas to focus on first depends on your role and setting, and that’s what the Focus Finder sorts out.

01 Evaluating and Choosing Technology Supporting shared decision-making and patient fit. +

“The best device is the one the person will actually use

“Fit changes over time — re-evaluate at every stage of life

What it covers

Know the Options

Available technology options: CGM, insulin delivery, AID
Setting realistic expectations for use and outcomes
Recognizing when current technology is no longer the right fit

Know the Person

Understanding goals, preferences, and readiness
Lifestyle, abilities, and support systems
Addressing questions, concerns, and misconceptions

Guide the Decision

Introducing technology in a clear, non-overwhelming way
Supporting informed, patient-centered decisions
Matching technology to the life it has to fit

02 Understanding and Starting Devices How devices work and safe, effective onboarding. +

“A strong start predicts long-term success

“Every device start needs a backup plan

What it covers

How Systems Work

CGM, insulin delivery, and AID systems
Connectivity: apps, receivers, and cloud platforms
Data storage, EHR integration, and interoperability

Starting Strong

Preparing patients for device start
Teaching insertion, activation, and pairing
Explaining alerts, alarms, and basic functions

The First Weeks

Setting expectations for the first days and weeks
Supporting initial use and building early confidence
Sick-day and device-failure backup planning

03 Interpreting and Acting on Device Data Reading patterns and translating them into care decisions. +

“Device data shows patterns over time, not just individual readings

“Data informs decisions — it doesn’t make them

What it covers

Core Metrics

Time in Range and other core metrics
Recognizing patterns and trends over time
Interpreting variability and consistency

What Data Can Tell You

What device data can and cannot tell you
Identifying hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia patterns
Explaining data concepts in patient-friendly terms

From Data to Decisions

Adjusting care plans based on data, within role and scope
How data informs insulin delivery and AID systems
Supporting safe correction strategies and next steps

04 Knowing Your Role and When to Escalate Scope of practice, escalation pathways, and care team communication. +

“Knowing when not to act is a clinical skill

“A good handoff carries the data with it

What it covers

Scope and Lanes

Scope of practice by discipline and setting
Recognizing decisions outside your lane
Recognizing when urgent action is needed

Escalation Pathways

Escalation triggers and pathways
What information to share when escalating
Documenting and handing off technology concerns

Care Team Communication

Communicating with endocrinologists and CDCES partners
Coordinating care across teams and settings

05 Optimizing Technology Over Time Clinical iteration and long-term advancement of technology use. +

“Optimization is clinical work, not just settings work

“Alert fatigue is a safety issue, not an annoyance

What it covers

Tuning AID Systems

Adjusting glucose targets within AID systems over time
Progressing automation levels and activity modes
Recognizing when AID settings have plateaued, and why

Alerts and Quality of Life

Reducing alert fatigue as patients gain experience
Refining thresholds based on patterns and lifestyle
Balancing safety alerts with quality of life

Transitions and Life Changes

Adjusting for pregnancy, puberty, aging, and activity changes
Knowing when to upgrade, switch, or simplify — and who makes that call
How firmware and algorithm updates change device behavior

06 Troubleshooting Devices Identifying and resolving common device issues. +

“Most device issues are fixable at the point of care

“Separate the user problem from the device problem first

What it covers

Common Failures

Addressing sensor errors and signal loss
Troubleshooting connectivity and app issues

User vs. Device

Identifying user-related vs. device-related issues
Knowing when to replace vs. wait

Guiding the Fix

Guiding patients through fixes step by step
Helping patients respond to errors with confidence
Knowing when to involve manufacturer support

07 Supporting Ongoing Use Sustained engagement, habit formation, and long-term confidence. +

“Sustained use beats perfect use

“Burnout is predictable — and addressable

What it covers

Barriers and Burnout

Identifying barriers to continued use
Recognizing diabetes burnout and diabetes distress
Addressing frustration and overwhelm

Building Habits

Supporting habit formation and routine use
Simplifying device use and data interpretation over time

Staying Engaged

Reinforcing education as needed
Supporting long-term confidence and engagement

08 Access and Affordability Navigating cost, coverage, and access to technology. +

“Cost is a clinical barrier — treat it like one

“The coverage pathway determines everything downstream

What it covers

Coverage Pathways

Pharmacy vs. DME vs. over-the-counter pathways
Recognizing differences across payers and plans

Paperwork That Works

Supporting prior authorization and documentation
Supporting access to devices and ongoing supplies

Affordability Programs

Manufacturer and assistance programs
Addressing cost-related barriers to device use

09 Safe Use in Care Settings Safe and appropriate use across clinical and community environments. +

“The same device carries different risks in different settings

“Transitions are where safety breaks down

What it covers

Setting-Specific Safety

Using technology safely in inpatient settings
Supporting use in schools and camps
Recognizing setting-specific policies and constraints

Transitions of Care

Managing transitions between care settings
Coordinating care across teams and settings

Acute Response

Responding to acute glucose events in care settings
Understanding safety considerations by environment

10 Documentation, Coding, and Reimbursement Supporting accurate documentation and reimbursement for technology-related care. +

“If it isn’t documented, it isn’t reimbursed

“Good documentation serves the care team, not just the bill

What it covers

Codes and Visits

CPT codes for CGM interpretation and device management visits
Time-based vs. complexity-based billing considerations
How technology use affects visit coding and eligibility

Documentation That Supports Coverage

Documenting technology encounters for billing and continuity
What documentation supports device approval and continued coverage
Prior authorization requirements across payers

Working With Billing Teams

When and how to involve billing or coding specialists
Documentation that supports the broader care team

Not sure where to start? Answer two questions — your role and your setting — and the Focus Finder shows you.

Go to the Focus Finder →

danatech is a program of the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES), providing diabetes technology education for the whole care team.

The Diabetes Technology Key Focus Areas are an educational framework to guide professional development. They support, and do not replace, clinical judgment, institutional protocols or device-specific manufacturer guidance.

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DISCLAIMERS: 

This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your diabetes care and education specialist or health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. To find a diabetes care and education specialist near you, visit the ADCES finder tool.

ADCES and danatech curate product specifics and periodically review them for accuracy and relevance. As a result, the information may or may not be the most recent. We recommend visiting the manufacturer's website for the latest details if you have any questions.

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM)

Glucose Meters (BGM) & Monitoring

Training Clients/Patients

Troubleshooting Insulin Delivery Devices

Diabetes Technology Key Focus Areas

Whatever your role, diabetes tech is now part of it.

Why we built this

How it’s meant to help

Start where it matters most for you.

Diabetes Technology Key Focus Areas

Know the Options

Know the Person

Guide the Decision

How Systems Work

Starting Strong

The First Weeks

Core Metrics

What Data Can Tell You

From Data to Decisions

Scope and Lanes

Escalation Pathways

Care Team Communication

Tuning AID Systems

Alerts and Quality of Life

Transitions and Life Changes

Common Failures

User vs. Device

Guiding the Fix

Barriers and Burnout

Building Habits

Staying Engaged

Coverage Pathways

Paperwork That Works

Affordability Programs

Setting-Specific Safety

Transitions of Care

Acute Response

Codes and Visits

Documentation That Supports Coverage

Working With Billing Teams

The Danatech Digest

Join 25,000+ professionals who get our latest diabetes technology updates

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