A new partnership between NHS Highland and digital diagnostics provider Digostics is delivering a world-first in diabetes care, by enabling cystic fibrosis (CF) patients to complete vital diabetes screening from their own homes.
The new service uses Digostics’ GTT@home technology to carry out oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT), the gold standard for screening cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFD).
It’s the first time globally that OGTT has been used at home for routine CFD screening.
The move is expected to significantly improve access and outcomes for patients across the Highlands and Western Isles, many of whom would otherwise need to travel hundreds of miles to receive care.
“We piloted this new way of working for three months and it was really well received,” said Lesley Blaikie, Cystic Fibrosis Nurse Specialist at NHS Highland.
“It’s a game-changer for our patients.”
Previously, OGTT screening meant travelling to hospital or requiring a clinician to visit the patient’s home, no small task in a region where journeys of over 200 miles are not uncommon.
CFD is one of the most common complications in adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis, affecting thousands across the UK.
Early diagnosis through annual testing is crucial, but geography and infection risk have made consistent screening a challenge.
“With GTT@home, we can now offer diabetes screening to every eligible CF patient exactly when it’s needed,” said Blaikie.
“By enabling patients to complete the test from the comfort of their own homes, we eliminate long-distance travel, free up hospital resources, and ensure more equitable access to care.”
The GTT@home kit includes a glucose drink, a new test device, finger prickers, and guided instructions with real-time support.
Results are shared directly with the patient’s clinical team via a mobile app, ensuring accuracy without the need for hospital attendance.
The partnership follows Digostics’ earlier success in using GTT@home for gestational diabetes screening, where it led to higher uptake and fewer missed diagnoses.
James Jackson, CEO and Founder of Digostics and inventor of the GTT@home system, praised NHS Highland for its innovation.
“This new application of GTT@home is a natural and important evolution,” he said.
“It’s about bringing care to the patient, not the other way around.”
With cystic fibrosis patients particularly vulnerable to cross-infection, minimising hospital visits is a priority for their safety and wellbeing.
NHS Highland and Digostics say this new home-based screening model could now pave the way for wider use across the UK and beyond.
