News | October 2025

An October 2025 study published by the Wiley Online Library examines how diabetes technologies fail to meet the accessibility needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) people. The research explores barriers in device design, clinical trials, and insurance coverage. Its findings underscore why inclusive, user-centered design is essential to equitable diabetes care.

  • DHH people experience higher rates of diabetes while facing systemic barriers to accessing technologies such as continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps in linguistically and culturally appropriate ways.
  • Communication barriers have led to the historical exclusion of DHH individuals from clinical trials and device design, with some manufacturers explicitly contraindicating use for people without “adequate hearing.”
  • Certain insurers have denied coverage for diabetes devices based on hearing-related requirements, further limiting access.
  • This first evaluation of alarm accessibility found that no current devices adequately meet DHH users’ needs.
  • Researchers recommend universal design approaches, inclusion of DHH people in development and testing, ASL-based instructions and support, accessible alarm alternatives, and more informed clinical prescribing.

 

Why It Matters

This study highlights how gaps in accessibility are not merely technical oversights but structural inequities that affect health outcomes for Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities. When technologies are designed without the perspectives of those most affected, disparities widen and innovation stalls.

For GDRI, these findings reinforce the importance of community-led research and inclusive design practices. By advancing evidence that centers Deaf expertise and lived experience, GDRI’s work helps ensure that health technologies—and the policies governing them—are equitable, accessible, and responsive to real-world needs. Learn more about our services and programs that empower communities to lead data-driven change.

 

Further Reading

For more context and detail, explore the following resources:

 

Credits & Attribution

Summary based on Diabetes Technology Accessibility in Deaf and Hard of Hearing People With Diabetes. Journal of Diabetes Research, October 2025. Wiley Online Library. https://doi.org/10.1155/jdr/9944722

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