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On-line Diabetes Resources

Part 14: Blood Glucose Meters

By David Mendosa

Tracking Diabetes on the Web Since 1995
Most Recent Update: April 20, 2008

This Web page brings together in one place descriptions of and links to only those Web pages dealing with meters for diabetes management, but is linked to the 15 other On-line Diabetes Resources pages dealing with other Web pages, other parts of the Internet, and other on-line services. Those links that I think are especially valuable are marked in red. This page now also includes a section for A1C meters and kits.

Existing Non-invasive and/or Continuous Meters

Added March 14, 2008:

Abbott Diabetes Care announced on March 13 that the Food and Drug Administration has finally approved its FreeStyle Navigator Continuous Glucose Monitoring System. The FreeStyle Navigator system will be available in the second quarter of 2008 by prescription only. It received CE Mark in June 2007 and has been available outside the United States since September 2007. The URL is
http://www.abbottdiabetescare.com
DexCom Inc. in San Diego offers a short-term sensor that wirelessly transmits glucose readings to a hand-held receiver, providing real time continuous measurements. The company is also developing the first long-term implantable sensor for the continuous monitoring of glucose in people with diabetes. Full disclosure: I own stock in DexCom (ticker symbol DXCM). The URL is
http://www.dexcom.com/
Updated July 3, 2007:
Medtronic Diabetes in Northridge, California, offers two continuous sensors for patient use:
- The Guardian Real Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring System displays real-time glucose readings and alerts patients when glucose values become too high or low. The URL is
  http://www.minimed.com/products/guardian/
- The MiniMed Paradigm REAL-Time System is the first continuous sensor approved for integration with an insulin pump. The URL is
  http://www.minimed.com/products/insulinpumps/index.html
Added April 27, 2007:
A. Menarini , headquartered in Florence, Italy, offers its GlucoDay S continuous glucose monitor in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, France, Germany, UK, Sweden, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, and Slovenia. The URL is
http://www.menarini.com/english/diagnostica/glucoday_00a.htm
Added July 3, 2007:

OrSense Ltd., in Nes Ziona, Israel, offers its NBM-200G continuous non-invasive monitoring system in Europe. The URL is
http://www.orsense.com/

New Book: The Pursuit of Noninvasive Glucose

This website now features an important new book about the development of non-invasive blood glucose meters. Published here for the first time, this book is the contribution of the leading authority on these devices, John L. Smith. He is the former CEO of Fovioptics and earlier the chief scientific officer of LifeScan. In a 24-year career he professionally evaluated more than 100 non-invasive meter technologies. John kindly authorized me to make his book available here. If you have any questions about the book after reading it, please address them to me. The URL is
http://www.mendosa.com/noninvasive_glucose.pdf

Current Blood Glucose Meters

77 Elektronika Kft. in Budapest, Hungary, has manufactured at least 53 blood glucose meters since this privately-owned company was founded in 1986. This company is not as well-known as it should be, because it sells most of its meters internationally through distributors that put their own brand name on them. Some of 77 Elektronika's current blood glucose meters are:
- SensoLite Nova and SensoLite Nova Plus. These meters require an extremely small blood sample and return results in a very small time: They require only a 0.5µL (0.5 microliters) drop of blood and test is 5 seconds. The SensoLite Nova Plus was specially developed for visually impaired people. It has the unique ability of telling the operation instructions and test results in a human voice, in your choice of English, German, French, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, and Turkish.
- SensoCard and SensoCard Plus. These meters have the same specs as those listed above. The SensoCard Plus was specially developed for visually impaired people. It has the unique ability of telling the operation instructions and test results in a human voice, in your choice of English, German, French, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, and Turkish.
  Cunningham Diagnostics Ltd. is 77 Elektronika's distributor for Great Britain and United States for the SensoCard Plus. Cunningham's URL is http://www.cdx.uk.com/
- Other 77 Elektronika blood glucose meters include the GlucoCare and OptiLite.
The company's URL is
http://www.e77.hu/index.html
Abbott Laboratories in Abbott Park, Illinois, which purchased MediSense Inc. in 1996 and TheraSense in 2004, manufactures several different blood glucose meters:
- Precision Xtra. This meter tests both blood glucose and blood ketones. It measures ß-hydroxybutyric acid, the predominant ketone body and indicates the real time results in 30 seconds as an accurate number. Blood glucose testing now takes 10 seconds (down to 5 seconds by fall 2005) and requires only a 1.5µL (1.5 microliters) drop of blood, down to 0.6µL (0.6 microliters) by fall 2005. It has a 450 test result memory recording time and date and shows 7, 14, and 28 day averages. Its data port allows it to work with diabetes management software. This meter is plasma-blood calibrated. In a co-branding agreement with PolyMedica Corp. its Liberty subsidiary sells the Precision Xtra as the Optium blood glucose meter (except the Optium does not test ketones). The URL is
  http://www.abbottdiabetescare.com/content/en_US
  /20.10.30:30/product/Product_Profile_0004.htm
  Update June 3, 2006:
- ReliOn Ultima. This is the ultra-low price meter at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores. The meter requires a 0.6µL (0.6 microliter) drop of blood and displays test results in 5 seconds. SolarTek, a subsidiary of the MediSense division of Abbott Laboratories, markets it exclusively through Wal-Mart and Sam's Club under the ReliOn brand where it currently sells for $8.88; 50 test strips sell for $21.97. The URL is http://www.wsff.com/relion/index.html
- The five TheraSense meters are:
  - FreeStyle. This meter, which the company began shipping June 28, 2000, eliminates virtually all the pain of testing by allowing testing at sites other than fingertips. It takes a sample of only 0.3µL (0.3 microliters), which is a blood drop about the size of a pinhead, or a fraction of the smallest sample required by any other blood glucose monitoring system. It tests in an average of 15 seconds. It is plasma-calibrated. The data port allows users to download readings to a PC (software pending clearance by the Food and Drug Administration). The company says that the meter has minimal interference from substances in the blood such as vitamin C or acetaminophen, which result in inaccurate readings on many other systems.
  - FreeStyle Tracker. This new meter, which the FDA approved June 14, 2002, combines a blood glucose meter, diabetes manager, and Handspring Visor personal digital assistant (PDA) all in one compact device. This meter has the same technology as the original FreeStyle meter (above). Only a few were every sold, because the Handspring Visor was discontinued soon after the FreeStyle Tracker came out.
    Two most positive reviews are on-line at http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/d_0i_281.htm and http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/editornote/FreeStyle.shtml.
  - FreeStyle Flash. Introduced in October 2003, the FreeStyle Flash is the world's smallest blood glucose meter. And no other meter takes a smaller blood sample, only 0.3µL (0.3 microliters). Its test time—seven seconds—places it as one of the fastest meters available.
    Updated January 10, 2007:
  - FreeStyle Freedom. The FreeStyle Freedom takes the same small blood sample as other FreeStyle meters — only 0.3µL (0.3 microliters) — but is faster. Its test time is five seconds.
    Updated April 17, 2007:
  - FreeStyle Lite. To be available in May 2007, this new FreeStyle meter requires no calibration (coding). Like other FreeStyle meters, the Lite takes a small blood sample, only 0.3µL (0.3 microliters). It returns blood glucose results in an average of just five seconds. Abbott's press release is online at http://abbott.com/global/url/pressRelease/en_US/
    60.5:5/Press_Release_0445.htm
The URL is
http://www.abbott.com/
Acon Laboratories Inc. in San Diego offers the On-Call Now blood glucose monitoring system internationally. It is not yet available in the United States or Canada, but a company spokesman tells me that we can expect a U.S. version later in 2005. Another company spokesperson tells me that it has the same performance characteristics as its Verify blood glucose monitoring system, which OEMs market. It requires a 5µL (5 microliters) drop of blood, requires 10 to 40 seconds to test, and it has a data port. The company tells me that it is "competitively priced" with test strips that are less expensive than the competition. The URL is
http://www.aconlabs.com/glucose.html

Updated April 14, 2008:
Agamatrix Inc. in Salem, New Hampshire, develops and manufactures blood glucose monitoring products. Its first meters, the Wave 1, is co-branded under different names. Liberty Medical sells it as the Liberty meter. Similar AgaMatrix meters are also available in Europe, China, and Canada.
Now AgaMatrix brands its meters as "WaveSense" meters. The first of the WaveSense meters was the WaveSense KeyNote, which like the company's first meters requires coding. An extension of the KeyNote line is the KeyNote Pro for medical professionals (like nurses) who need a meter that will automatically eject the test strip.
Following the WaveSense KeyNote is the WaveSense Presto, which is also a low-cost device, but unlike the KeyNote requires no coding.
The ultimate meter is the WaveSense Jazz. The initial implementation of this meter uses a USB connection to download readings. But the company will follow with a Bluetooth meter. The URL is
http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/17/24867/ultimate-meter/
Added March 31, 2005:
Apex Biotechnology Corp. in Hsin-Chu, Taiwan, makes (or has made) two or three blood glucose monitoring systems: The GlucoSure (which may no longer be made), the GlucoSure II, and the MultiSure. They probably are not available in the U.S. The URL (in Chinese) is http://www.apexbio.com
Added May 25, 2006:
Arkray Inc. in Kyoto, Japan, makes three blood glucose monitoring systems, in addition to Hypoguard meters, which it recently purchased (see below). The Arkray meters are:
- The Glucocard X-Meter GT-1910 requires a blood sample of approximately 3µL (3 microliters) and returns results in 30 seconds. I don’t know if it is available in the United States.
- The Glucocard II Data GT-1650 requires a blood sample of approximately 3µL (3 microliters) and returns results in 30 seconds. I don’t know if it is available in the United States.
- The Super Glucocard II GT-1640 requires a blood sample of approximately 3µL (3 microliters) and returns results in 30 seconds. I don’t know if it is available in the United States.
The URL is
http://www.arkray.co.jp/english/products/smbg.html
Added: July 18, 2006:
Aventir Biotech LLC in Carlsbad, California, offers the Glucose Pilot Blood Glucose Monitoring System in the U.S. This new meter requires a blood sample of 1µL (1 microliter) and returns results in 5 seconds. TianJin New Bay Bioresearch Co. Ltd in Tianjin, PR China, is the manufacturer of this meter. The Aventir Biotech website is
http://www.aventirbio.com/.
A product website is under development at http://www.glucosepilot.com/
Bayer Corporation in Tarrytown, New York, manufacturers six different blood glucose meters. While the Food and Drug Administration has cleared each of them for alternative site testing on the forearm, palm, abdomen and thigh, the blood volume requirement of at least 2µL (2 microliters) is difficult to meet.
The meters are:
- The Ascensia Dex 2 Diabetes Care System (formerly known as the Glucometer Dex 2) replaces the Dex meter. This meters lets you test your blood sugar 10 times without having to change the convenient test sensor cartridge. Its data port allows it to work with diabetes management software. This meter is plasma-blood calibrated. It requires only a 2.5-3.5µL (2.5-3.5 microliters) drop of blood and requires 30 seconds to test.
- The Ascensia Elite XL (formerly known as the Glucometer Elite XL). Bayer introduced this meter in April 1999. Its data port allows it to work with diabetes management software. This meter is plasma-blood calibrated and uses sensor technology, which means that regular cleaning is not required. It takes only a 2µL (2 microliters) drop of blood and gives its result in 30 seconds.
- The Ascensia Elite (formerly known as the Glucometer Elite). It lacks a data port. This meter is plasma-blood calibrated and uses sensor technology, which means that regular cleaning is not required. It takes only a 2µL (2 microliters) drop of blood and gives its result in 30 seconds.
  Updated March 20, 2007:
- The Ascensia Breeze2 uses the Ascensia Autodisc10-test disc, which does away with handling individual test strips. It is the first meter that requires no coding (calibration). It requires only a 1µL (1 microliter) drop of blood and requires 5 seconds to test.
  Updated March 20, 2007:
- The Ascensia Contour requires only a 0.6µL (0.6 microliter) drop of blood and 5 second test time. It requires no coding. Its data port allows it to work with diabetes management software.
- The Ascensia Brio requires a 3µL (3 microliter) drop of blood and 10 second test time. It does not have a date port. This meter is usually used in the managed care market and is not available for direct sales. Bayer announced on September 2, 2005, that it is donating 45,000 Ascensia Brio meters and test strips to help meet the needs of Hurricane Katrina victims with diabetes.
The URL is
http://www.ascensia.com/
Becton Dickinson & Co. in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, and Sanvita Inc., the medical products distribution division of Chronic Care Solutions Holding Inc., announced in January 2007, that, “Sanvita will continue to supply test strips that work with BD Logic and Paradigm Link monitors through pharmacies, mail-order providers, and health plans well into the future. Sanvita also plans to launch exciting new products in the future.” The URL is
http://www.sanvita.com/.
Belbiosens in Mozyr, Belarus, has invented a blood glucose meter that includes 16 test strips. The company has made a small number of them for testing and is now searching for partners for coproduction of the meters. The URL is
http://www.belsens.narod.ru/
Updated July 16, 2006:
BioNime Corporation in Dali City, Taichung County, Taiwan, manufactures the Rightest GM300 Blood Glucose Monitoring System. The URL is
http://www.bionime.com/en/index2.htm
Updated November 10, 2006:
Cardiocom in Chanhassen, Minnesota, is shipping the GlucoCom Blood Glucose Meter and the AutoLink telecommunications device. The GlucoCom returns a result in 7 seconds and takes 0.7µL (0.7 microliters). The URL is
http://www.cardiocom.com/glucocomsystem.html
Updated April 14, 2008:
Diagnostic Devices Inc. in Charlotte, North Carolina, at (800) 366-5901, has just introduced a new talking blood glucose meter called the Prodigy Voice.
The early DDI meter for the sight-impaired, the Prodigy AutoCode, is still available. These are the only two meters now available that the blind can use. The URL is
http://www.diagnosticdevicesinc.com/
Added March 31, 2005:
Eumed Biotechnology Co. Ltd., in Hsin Chu Hsien, Taiwan, makes two blood glucose monitoring systems: the EUSure and the EUKare. Each requires a blood sample of 3µL (3 microliters) and provides results 15 seconds. They probably are not available in the U.S. The URL is http://www.eumed.com.tw/default.htm
Fifty50 Diabetes Supply Pharmacy in Carrollton, Texas, offers one private-labeled meter, the FIFTY 50 Control Blood Glucose Monitoring System. It requires a blood sample of 1µL (1 microliter) and provides results 5 seconds. It lists for $19.95. The URL is
http://www.fifty50pharmacy.com/index.mvc?page=F5/PROD/Meters/F50ControlMeter
Added May 26, 2006:
GenExel-Sein Inc. with headquarters in South Korea is the developer of the Duo-Care device, which combines a blood glucose monitor with a wrist blood pressure monitor. The DuoCare’s blood glucose test returns results in only five seconds. The URL is
http://www.duo-care.com/
HMD Bio Medical in Titusville, Florida, offers the GlucoLab meter. It requires a small blood sample; just 1.0µL (1.0 microliters), and gives results in 5 seconds. The URL is
http://www.hmdbiomed.com/
Glucoplus Inc. in Montreal, Québec, Canada, sells the GlucoPlus Glucose Monitoring System. It requires a small blood sample; just 1.5µL (1.5 microliters), and gives results in less than 15 seconds. The URL is
http://www.glucoplus.ca/
Added October 12, 2007:
Health & Life Co., Ltd in Chung Ho City, Taiwan, offers the HL 588 Blood Glucose Meter. It has a 5 second response time and requires a 0.8 microliter blood sample. The URL is
http://www.hlmt.com.tw/product/show.asp?ID=77
HemoCue AB in Ängelholm, Sweden, makes glucose systems based on a glucose dehydrogenase method consisting of a small dedicated analyzer and a unique disposable microcuvette. The systems combine the precision and accuracy of a central laboratory with the speed and convenience of obtaining results at the point-of-care. They require 5µL (5 microliters) of capillary, venous, or arterial blood and produce immediate, accurate results over a wide range—0 to 400 mg/dl. It takes one to 1.5 minutes to provide results, which are technique-independent and have no inherent limitations related to hematocrit or known drug interferences and no calibration or microcuvette batch-to-batch variations. Since its market entry in the 1990s, HemoCue has been primarily used in hospitals and point-of-care facilities, has been evaluated in several studies, and has been used as the reference assay in the testing of glucose meters. HemoCue plans to start marketing its Glucose 201 Analyzer to the home market by the end of 2003. It is currently available for $600 plus about $1 for each microcuvette. The URL is
http://www.hemocue.com.
Home Diagnostics Inc. in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, currently manufacturers four blood glucose systems. They are available nationwide at major pharmacies and through mail-order suppliers. Other retailers sell the products under their own brand names. The meters are:
- The Sidekick Testing System. This disposable system is quite small and contains a meter and a vial of 50 test strips. There is no coding required. it uses 1µL (1 microliter) of blood and provides results in less than 10 seconds.
- TrueTrack Smart System. This meter requires a tiny blood sample — 1µL (1 microliters) — provides results in 10 seconds. This meter has a data port.
- TrackEASE Smart System. Only available through mail-order, home medical equipment and durable medical equipment distributors, the TrackEASE Smart System requires a tiny blood sample — just 1µL (1 microliters) — and provides results in just 10 seconds.
- Prestige IQ. This meter has a data port. The displayed test results are about the largest size of any meter.
The URL is
http://www.homediagnosticsinc.com/products-1.asp
Hypoguard, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arkray Inc. of Kyoto, Japan, now manufacturers and distributes several blood glucose meters for the home market:
- Assure 3 and Advance Intuition. These are the same meter, except the Assure 3 is only sold to institutions and the Advance Intuition is sold only to retailers. Each require only a 3µL (3 microliter) drop of blood and display test results in 10 seconds. These meters are plasma referenced.
- Assure II Blood Glucose System. Hypoguard introduced this meter in March 2002. It requires only a 3µL (3 microliters) drop of blood and displays test results in 30 seconds. The meter is plasma referenced. It stores 10 readings but lacks a data port.
- Assure Blood Glucose System. A predecessor company, Chronimed, introduced this meter in August 1998. It requires a 10µL (10 microliter) drop of blood and displays test results in about 30 seconds.
- QuickTek Blood Glucose System. This meter is competitively priced and aimed at the value segment of the market. It requires a small blood sample of less than 3.5µL (3.5 microliters) and includes a 250 test memory, computer download capability, and a quick read time of 10 seconds.
- The Advance Micro-draw, formerly know as the Hypoguard Advance Blood Glucose Monitoring System, uses a small sample size of 1.5µL (1.5 microliters) and provides results in 15 seconds.
- The Select GT automatically stores up to 100 test results for easy record keeping and has a back-up color chart for visual confirmation.
- The Supreme II automatically stores up to 100 test results for easy record keeping.
- The Supreme Plus blood glucose meter has a large display screen and is whole blood referenced. The meter displays results in 30 to 60 seconds.
Its URL is
http://www.hypoguard.com/products.html
Revised: April 20, 2008:

LG Electronics of Seoul, Korea, has combined a blood glucose meter with a cell phone, the Diabetes (Health Care) phone KP8400. The KP8400 is available now in South Korea only for the equivalent of about US$380, according to InfoSync World. The company’s URL is
http://www.lge.com/

Free Meters, Test Strips, and Lancets

If you have good health insurance and live in one of the states that require health insurance providers to cover at least one blood glucose meter, you can get the meter, test strips, and lancets at little or no cost. Most states now require health insurance providers to cover diabetes supplies, equipment and self-management training. See http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/insurance/overview.jsp.

LifeScan Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company headquartered in Milpitas, California, markets nine different blood glucose meters in the United States. Its current meters are:
- The new OneTouch UltraMini Blood Glucose Meter has “No bells, no whistles, no complicated screens — just the number you want from our smallest meter,” LifeScan says. This small and simple meter gives results in 5 seconds and requires just a 1µL (1 microliter) drop of blood. In some other countries a similar LifeScan meter is known as the OneTouch UltraEasy. LifeScan's Horizon meter, intended for third tier markets, looks similar on the outside, but is less complex internally and uses a different strip.
  Added April 6, 2006:
- The new OneTouch Ultra2 meter needs just requires a 1µL (1 microliter) drop of blood and tests in 5 seconds on either a finger or the arm. This meter is plasma-blood calibrated. It has a data port that connects to either the USB or COM port of your computer and uses the LifeScan In Touch software.
- The One Touch UltraSmart is now available. LifeScan told the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/pdf2/k021819.pdf that the One Touch UltraSmart system provides the same glucose monitoring capability as the One Touch Ultra system: It requires a 1µL (1 microliters) drop of blood and tests in 5 seconds on either a finger or the arm. The primary differences are in the advanced memory features. In this respect, the One Touch UltraSmart system adds electronic logbook features even more extensive than those offered by the One Touch Profile meter.
  See, however, a less than positive review of the UltraSmart by Gene Siscoe on this site at http://www.mendosa.com/otus.htm
- The One Touch Ultra Blood Glucose Monitoring System. The system features a five second test time, advanced electrochemical biosensor test strips that require a 1µL (1 microliters) blood sample, and the user option of finger or arm testing. It has a data port and uses the LifeScan In Touch software. This meter is plasma-blood calibrated. Regular cleaning is not required.
- The One Touch FastTake. The system features a 15 second test time, advanced electrochemical biosensor test strips that require a 1.5µL (1.5 microliter) blood sample. It has a data port and uses the LifeScan In Touch software. This meter is plasma-blood calibrated. Regular cleaning is not required.
- SureStep Meter (which is marketed as GlucoTouch in Europe and as NovoAssist in Japan). The current version of this meter adds a data port. It requires a 10-30µL (10-30 microliters) drop of blood and tests in 15-30 seconds. This meter is plasma-blood calibrated. It uses color reflectance technology, which means that regular cleaning is required.
- One Touch Profile. Its data port allows it to work with diabetes management software. It requires a 10µL (10 microliters) drop of blood and tests in 45 seconds. This is a whole blood-calibrated meter. Until the recent release of the UltraSmart, this was the only meter on the market that uses event markers help you flag test results with activities that affect blood glucose levels.
- One Touch Basic.The current version of this meter adds a data port. It requires a 10µL (10 microliters) drop of blood and tests in 45 seconds.This is a whole blood-calibrated meter. It uses color reflectance technology, which means that regular cleaning is required.
The URL for the U.S. company is
http://www.LifeScan.com/
and for LifeScan Canada it is
http://www.lifescan-can.com/
Medtronic Diabetes in Northridge, California, offers three meters, two of which are described and linked in the previous section of this web page at “Existing Non-invasive and/or Continuous Meters.” The company also offers:
- The Paradigm Link Blood Glucose Monitor, powered by BD Logic technology, is the first monitor available for wireless communication with an insulin pump. Like the BD Logic, this meter provides fast results in 5 seconds with 50% less pain when used with BD Ultra-Fine 33 Lancets — the thinnest available. It also requires the smallest blood volume 0.3µL (0.3 microliters), which makes testing more comfortable. The URL is
  http://www.minimed.com/products/insulinpumps/paradigm/paradigmlink.html
Added April 27, 2007:
A. Menarini Diagnostics, headquartered in Florence, Italy, offers its blood glucose meters in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, France, Germany, UK, Sweden, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, and Slovenia. The company makes Glucocard and GlucoMen meters. The URL is
http://www.menarini.com/english/diagnostica/home_gluco_descri.htm
Added October 12, 2007:
Novabiomedical Corporation in Waltham, Massachusetts, develops and manufactures medical devices, and diagnostic equipment, specifically vitro diagnostics.
Its Nova Max Blood Glucose Monitoring System has a 5-second test time, a 0.3 microliter sample size, and no coding. The URL is
http://www.novacares.com/
Polymer Technology Systems Inc. in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a diabetic diagnostic manufacturing company focusing on the complete management of diabetes and its complications.
- Its lead consumer product is called the CardioChek, a hand-held medical diagnostics system to monitor key health indicators including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose, and ketones. The company is is now selling this meter exclusively through distributors, which offer it at widely differing prices from about $120 on up. Polymer Technology Systems no longer supports the BioScanner 2000 (formerly called the MTM BioScanner 1000), except for creatinine. The URL is
  http://www.ptspanels.com/consumer/index2.asp
The URL is
http://www.ptspanels.com/
QuestStar Medical Inc. in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, currently has announced a meter in development:
- Focus. Scheduled to be available in 2005. Its data port allows it to work with diabetes software. It will take an 7µL (7 microliters) drop of blood and gives its result in 30-50 seconds. You are able to enter an activity marker for each test. The meter and its strips will be priced at the very low end of the range.
The company's toll free phone number is (800) 525-6718 and the URL is
http://www.queststarmedical.com/
The Roche Group, based in Basel, Switzerland, which merged with Boehringer Mannheim Corporation in 1997, manufactures a wide range of blood glucose meters:
- Accu-Chek Aviva. This new meter gives reliable results in five seconds and requires one of the smallest blood samples of any meter, just 0.6µL (0.6 microliters). Please see my review of this meter at
  http://www.mendosa.com/aviva.htm
- Accu-Chek Go. This new meter deliver your results in just 5 seconds and requires a small drop of blood—just 1.5µL (1.5 microliters). You can use it for alternative site testing. It has alarms that you can set and includes a data port for uploading results to your computer. This meter is not sold in the U.S. The URL is
  http://www.roche-diagnostics.com/products_services/accuchek_go.html
- Accu-Chek Compact. This is one of the newest members of the Accu-Chek family of meters. One of its major features is its Automated Drum Technology, which automates a strip-handling process with self-contained strips, calibrates the meter, and enables the test strips to be dispensed from a drum of 17 tests with a press of a button. In addition, it delivers results within 15 seconds and only requires 3.5µL (3.5 microliters) of capillary blood. Outside-meter dosing of blood samples assures compliance with stringent hygiene standards and helps minimize the possibility of human error. Other features, such as underdosing detection and built-in strip quality control, help assure maximum safety and efficacy. The meter also features an infrared data port that can download data into Accu-Chek data management systems, computers, and other data storage devices and, via modem, to health care providers. This meter is plasma-blood calibrated.
- Accu-Chek Active. It requires only a 1µL (1 microliters) drop of blood and results appear in about five seconds. The alternative testing option means that you can test your blood sugar from your palm, forearm, upper arm, thigh, or calf. It has a data port.
- Accu-Chek Complete. Its data port allows it to work with diabetes management software. This meter has eight programmable time blocks. An optional fax/modem that connects directly to the meter allows you to transfer blood glucose readings directly to your health care team. The Comfort Curve strips are plasma-calibrated and require only 4µL (4 microliters) of blood and test in 40 seconds. This meter uses sensor technology, which means that regular cleaning is not required.
- Accu-Chek Advantage. Its data port allows it to work with diabetes management software. The Comfort Curve strips are plasma-calibrated and require only 4µL (4 microliters) of blood and test in 40 seconds. This meter uses sensor technology, which means that regular cleaning is not required.
- Months ago the FDA approved an Accu-Chek Advantage Module for a Handspring Visor PDA. But now (February 2003) feedback from Roche Diagnosics sent to a correspondent of mine and forwarded to me says, "Due to recent developments within the Handspring Visor product line, the Advantage Module has been discontinued."
  Added February 14, 2007:
- Accu-Chek Voicemate. This meter, designed for the sight-impaired, is no longer available from Roche, according to correspondence from the company.
  Added March 15, 2006:
- Accu-Chek Compact Plus. This new meter includes a drum of 17 test strips and a Softclix Plus lancet device that can be detached. It requires a sample size of 1.5 microliters and gives test results in five seconds.
The URL is
http://www.accu-chek.com/
Added July 19, 2006:
Safe-com GmbH in Burg Lichtenfels, Germany, has developed the GlucoTel, the first completely wireless blood glucose meter. The company hopes to have it on the market in early 2007. The URL is
http://www.glucotel.com/
Added March 31, 2005:
TaiDoc Technology Corporation in Taipei, Taiwan, is making a lot of blood glucose monitoring systems, including the Achtung TD-4207, Clever Chek TD-4209, Clever Chek TD-4222. Apparently forthcoming are the TD-4101, TD-4102, TD-4103, TD-4106, TD-4107, TD-4109, TD-4110, TD-4205, and TD-4206. It also makes three systems that monitor both blood glucose and blood pressure: Clever Chek TD-3213, Clever Chek TD-3215, Clever Chek TD-3250. I don't think they are available in the U.S. yet, although at least one of these meters has FDA 510(k) approval. The URL is http://www.taidoc.com.tw/
Added May 17, 2007:
Tyson Bioresearch Inc. in HsinChu, Taiwan, writes me that they offer the EZ Smart series of blood glucose meters. But I don't know if they are available for sale anywhere yet. The URL is
http://www.tysonbio.com/test/products%20(Tyb%20product%20Home).htm
Revised March 26, 2008:

US Diagnostics Inc. (formerly Infopia Inc.) in New York City has introduced four blood glucose meters:

The Maxima Blood Glucose Monitoring System. This meter can use alternative sites to provide results in 5 seconds with a sample size of 0.5µL (0.5 microliters) and comes with a lifetime warranty.
The EasyGluco G1 Blood Glucose Monitoring System. This meter can use alternative sites to provide results in 9 seconds with a sample size of 3µL (3 microliters). This system is value priced with a box of 50 strips selling for $17.95. The starter package including the meter, lancing device, 150 test strips and 150 lancets, is $49.95.
The EasyGluco G2 Blood Glucose Monitoring System. This meter can use alternative sites to provide results in 9 seconds with a sample size of 3µL (3 microliters).
The Control Blood Glucose Monitoring System. This meter can use either traditional or alternative sites to provide results in 5 seconds with a small sample size of 1µL (1 microliter).

The URL is
http://www.usdiagnostics.net

Other Resources

Diabetech Ltd. Co. in Dallas, Texas, has introduced the GlucoMON wireless device to provide critical patient data in real time to medical professionals. It is non-invasive and also alerts families of juvenile and geriatric patients of their glucose levels only seconds after they test, wherever they are. Although it is not a meter, it works with the LifeScan Ultra meter, and Future GlucoMON's will work with other medical devices, including pumps and the forthcoming continuous glucose sensors. Kevin L. McMahon, the founder and president, is the father of a child with type 1 diabetes. However, shipments of the GlucoMON are currently on hold. See http://www.mendosa.com/glucomon.htm. The URL is
http://www.diabetech.net
The Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind publishes a valuable directory of products for people with diabetes, especially those who are blind. Blood glucose meter products that it lists and describes are in two sections, "Blood Glucose Meters with Voice Enunciation" and "Large Print (non-talking) Blood Glucose Monitors." The URL is
http://www.nfb.org/diabres.htm#7
Apparently only one company still sells generic test strips. And that company does not sell its strips in the United States. Diagnostic Solutions in Irvine, California, provides Uni-Check 1, 2, and 3 test strips designed for use in meters currently offered by LifeScan and Bayer and Uni-Check Visual strips for visual interpretation without the use of a meter. These low-cost test strips are available in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The URL is http://www.diagnosticsolutions.com/. A correspondent informs me that while the Diagnositic Solutions website says they don’t sell in the U.S., an online search found Uni-Check test strips are sold by several U.S. pharmacies, including OTC Wholesale.com.
Up until about 2001 Can-Am Care, a subsidiary of Inverness Medical Inc., manufactured and sold Excel GE Blood Glucose Test Strips for the Glucometer Elite and Glucometer Elite XL Blood Glucose Meters. However, in 2001 Johnson & Johnson bought Inverness' diabetes business. Now, J&J does not mention Excel test strips on any of its Web sites.
Revised October 10, 2006:
Kelly Close of Close Concerns Inc. in San Francisco, a consultancy devoted to diabetes and obesity research, tells me that on the basis of industry estimates worldwide sales of blood glucose meters were almost $5.9 billion in 2004. Roche Diagnostics leads with sales of about $2.3 billion. LifeScan/J&J is second with $1.7 billion. Together they continue to control two thirds of the blood glucose marketplace. Bayer with $800 million and Abbott Diabetes Care with $790 million are neck and neck for third place.
Other estimates vary. The U.S. market for blood glucose meters was worth $252.8 million in the year ended March 31, 2002, according to the June 2002 issue of OTC Update, published by Nicholas Hall Periodicals. This is up from $224.4 million in 2001 and $195.0 million in 2000.
But blood glucose strips are far more important. Sales in 2002 were $1,132.6 million. That's up from $1047.4 in 2001 and $971.1 million in 2000.
During a Johnson and Johnson presentation in October 2006, Eric Milledge Company Group Chairman stated that JNJ's LifeScan unit was number 1 in U.S. test strip sales for the year through June 2006 holding 36 percent of the market. He said that Roche (Accu-Chek) was number 2 at 26 percent, followed by Abbott (FreeStyle) at 21 percent, and Bayer at 13 percent. He cited "IMS DDD." IMS Health in Fairfield, Connecticut, provides market intelligence to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.
What are the FDA's standards for meter accuracy? The answer might surprise you. See the "Meter Accuracy" section of my "Diabetes Update" newsletter number 39 at http://www.mendosa.com/diabetes_update_39.htm
"Glucose Meters & Diabetes Management" is an extensive part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Diabetes Web site. The URL is
http://www.fda.gov/diabetes/glucose.html
Consumer Reports magazine tested 13 blood glucose meters for its August 2005 issue. The magazine rated these meters in terms of consistency, accuracy, and ease of use. Their 2001 review had defined consistency as the "ability to give similar readings on successive tests of the same blood sample" and accuracy as "how closely the readings agreed with standard lab results." This article says that consistency is "more important than accuracy because you can adapt to inaccurate readings as long as they are consistently high or low by the same amount." The magazine's panelists like the OneTouch UltraSmart and OneTouch Ultra the best. But they gave the same rank (very good) for consistency to these meters and six others: BD Logic, FreeStyle Flash, Accu-Chek Complete, Ascensia Contour, FreeStyle, and Accu-Chek Compact.
Ed Bryant has a valuable article for anyone who is visually impaired, "Talking Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems" in the Spring 1999 issue of Voice of the Diabetic, the Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind. The URL is
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Voice_of_the_Diabetic.asp?SnID=239522
Rebates and trade in allowances are available on most of these meters.
A Certified Diabetes Educator named Wanda Siu-Chan has a useful article about "Choosing the Meter That's Best for You" on-line in the diabetes area at The Daily Apple, where you need to register in order to read the article. The base URL is
http://www.thedailyapple.com/
An endocrinologist in my former home town of Santa Cruz, California, regularly has his patients take their blood glucose meters to his office and compare them with lab serum glucose tests taken by the lab at the same time (bearing in mind that some meters are calibrated for whole blood and others for plasma, which labs use). Dr. Larry C. Levin tells me that this has convinced him that no one model or brand is noticeably more inaccurate than another. Individual meters, however, often are inaccurate, and it is usually the older ones that are, he says. Therefore, he recommends that his patients change their meter every year. With a trade in, the cost is little or nothing.
The Children with Diabetes Web site evaluates blood glucose meters. See
http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/d_0i_000.htm
American Diabetes Association also has extensive information on blood glucose meter features. SeeThe American Diabetes Association 1999 Resource Guide, a supplement to the December 1998 issue of Diabetes Forecast, pp. 48-61.
The "Meters FAQ" of the Diabetic mailing list has extensive information about most of the blood glucose meters. The URL is
http://listserv.lehigh.edu/lists/diabetic/html/meters.html
There's a definite trend in the newest blood glucose meters and/or test strips to plasma calibration. While all meters take a whole-blood sample to calculate your blood glucose, some of the newer meters and/or test strips have been calibrated to provide the result as a plasma equivalent. Why add this confusing alternative? Because lab tests are expressed in plasma values. Plasma-calibrated meters and/or test strips make it easier for physicians and their staff to compare the results from your meter with results from the lab. A plasma-calibrated meter will report a reading about 8 to 12 percent higher than a whole-blood calibrated meter.
Diabetes Monitor has several useful Web pages about meters on this site:
- "Devices for Blood Glucose Monitoring" is at
  http://www.diabetesmonitor.com/other-3a.htm
- "How to Assure that your Blood Glucose Meter is Working Accurately" is at
  http://www.diabetesmonitor.com/bgm-ok.htm
- "Which blood glucose meter to get?" is at
  http://www.diabetesmonitor.com/which-m.htm
"Improving Blood Glucose Monitoring for Diabetes" is an article about blood glucose meters on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration site at
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/CONSUMER/CON00061.html
"Review Criteria Assessment of Portable Blood Glucose Monitoring In Vitro Diagnostic Devices Using Glucose Oxidase, Dehydrogenase or Hexokinase Methodology" is a draft FDA Document on-line at
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ode/gluc.html
Stefano Fornaciari in Italy proposes to partner with some investors and/or companies to produce and to sell his proposed non-invasive glucose meter, on which he has been working since 1997. The URL is
http://it.geocities.com/ste_x_forn/Home.htm

Forthcoming Meters

Non-invasive and/or Continuous or Wireless

New: January 5, 2006:
Advanced BioSensors Inc. in Mentor, Ohio, is developing a continuous glucose monitoring device called the Messenger. It will be the first to continuously measure glucose in the dermis instead of the fatty, subcutaneous tissue. You can read the article "Toward Continuous Blood Glucose Monitoring" by the company's president and founder, Albert P. Kretz, at http://www.devicelink.com/mddi/archive/03/06/003.html. The company doesn't yet have a website but owns the domain name http://www.advancedbiosensors.com. Meanwhile, you can reach it by email at info@advancedbiosensors.com
Updated June 4, 2007:
Agamatrix Inc. in Salem, New Hampshire, develops and manufactures blood glucose monitoring products. Its website has a teaser about "a number of direct applications" to continuous blood glucose monitoring. The URL is
http://www.agamatrix.com/wavesense_continuous.shtml
New: June 17, 2005:
AiMedics Pty Ltd in Eveleigh, NSW, Australia, is a private company specializing in non-invasive detection of disease. Its HypoMon system will be a monitoring device used to non-invasively detect the onset of hypoglycemia in people with type 1 and insulin-dependant type 2 diabetes. The system will detect low blood glucose levels below 2.5 mmol/l (45 mg/dl) and provide an alarm system for the patient and/or care giver to prevent onset of hypoglycemia complications. The URL is
AiMedics.com
Animas Corp. in Frazer, Pennsylvania, the manufacturer of the R1000 insulin pump, is developing a long-term, implantable, optical sensor, which will provide continuous and accurate monitoring of blood glucose levels. This sensor will be equipped with alarms to give warnings of impending hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Ultimately this sensor will be tied into an insulin infusion pump to provide closed-loop control of blood glucose levels. Based on spectroscopy, this sensor measures the near-infrared absorption of blood. The company believes that this sensor will be available commercially in 2003. The URL is
http://www.animascorp.com/products/pr_glucosesensor.shtml
Argose Inc. in Waltham, Massachusetts, was a medical research and development company whose principal focus was to develop a completely non-invasive glucose monitor for the detection and monitoring of glucose levels in both children and adults. That's what its Web site said, but the company is now out of business and its website is down.
ArithMed GmbH in Dortmund, Germany, at one time had an English-language Web site promoting its "GluControl GC300, the world's smallest non-invasive blood glucose meter," which is intended for home use. Few details are available. For example, it said that the device is "based on an innovative method," without specifying the method. A press release on the site dated March 3, 2000, said the company was already in production and the device would be available in April 2000, but no details have been subsequently added. The URL was http://www.arithmed.de/, but is no longer online.
Bioject Inc. in Portland, Oregon, used to say that its glucose monitoring system will continuously and precisely measures glucose levels on a 24-hour basis. The system was supposedly a patch-like sensor coupled with a smart card about the size of a credit card connected by radio waves that you can keep in your pocket. A company representative said that they were planning to hit the market in 2001, but the company Web site no longer mentions this product. The URL is
http://www.bioject.com/
Biocontrol Technology Inc. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, (subsequently renamed BICO Inc.) once said that it "has developed the world's first non-invasive glucose monitor for diabetic patients." It's called the Diasensor 1000. It was approved for sale in Europe. The company said that it sold four Diasensor 1000's and that "the devices...sell for US $9,000." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration did not grant approval for sale in the United States. The company no longer has a website and is out of business. BICO has "no employees, no operations, and no assets, all of its prior businesses were gone, as were the subsidiaries through which its operations had been conducted," according to an SEC filing. The company issued 7,357,012,122 shares for a total investment of $738,750,778. Gone.
Biopath Research Inc. is a private research and development company. Its primary goal is to finalize development of a non-invasive glucose monitoring device. Corporate Secretary Henry M. Lee wrote me several years ago that, "Our research to date has proven quite successful, and we are quite confident about the product development... We are currently developing our website." However, there is still no Biopath website.
Biopeak Corporation in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, says that it is developing a revolutionary, patent pending, Fusion Spectroscopy Platform for accurate and non-invasive human physiology monitoring applications, including glucose monitoring. Fusion Sensor technology is pain-free, small, accurate and easy to use whether periodically or continuously without exorbitant costs. This platform technology will enable a wide array of products including physiology monitors for body hydration, body mass and fat indices, glucose concentration, oxygen saturation, cardiac analysis, and blood pressure. The URL is
http://www.biopeak.com
New January 29, 2007:
Biosign Technologies Inc. in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, says that it is developing a non-invasive blood glucose monitor that it calls the UFIT. The URL is
http://biosign.com/
New June 22, 2005:
BioTex Inc. in Houston says that itis working toward the development of an optical glucose sensor. The URL is
http://www.biotexmedical.com/.
New June 10, 2005:
Calisto Medical Inc. in Plano, Texas, says that it had successfully completedly a pre-clinical trial of a continuous and non-invasive meter, the Glucoband. The URL is
http://www.calistomedical.com/eng/?p=main
New November 13, 2006
Cascade Metrix in Indianapolis, Indiana, is currently developing a continuous blood glucose monitoring system for use in critical care settings. “Our proprietary technology combines the state-of-the-art in mid infrared sensing technology and microfluidic blood sampling,” writes Kislaya Kunjan, co-founder and chief technology officer. The URL is
Cascade Metrix
Revised March 27, 2006:
Cell Robotics International Inc. in Albuquerque, New Mexico, markets its Lasette Plus for Home Use laser finger perforator. It is the first FDA-approved laser for home use.
It draws blood painlessly and is completely portable, weighing less than 9 ounces and is about as big as a cell phone. It requires a prescription and costs $595.
The Lasette is a laser lancing device with many benefits over a conventional lancet—less pain, less soreness, and quicker healing.
The URL is
http://www.cellrobotics.com/lasette/home.html
Added December 8, 2006
ChemImage Corporation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has applied for a patent for a noninvasive blood glucose meter. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent application, "US20060276697A1: Non-invasive biochemical analysis," to ChemImage indicating that the company would like to measure glucose noninvasively. The company's website, which however doesn't seem to mention anything about this work, is
http://www.chemimage.com/
CIBA Vision in Atlanta, Georgia, the eye care unit of Novartis AG, may be developing contact lenses that not only correct vision but also painlessly measure blood glucose, according to a 2001 article that at one time was online at http://www.msnbc.com/news/591718.asp?0dm=C12LH#BODY. The article refers to a pilot study presented in June 2001 at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association in Philadephia. The CIBA Vision site, however, does not mention it.
Added February 7, 2007:
Cybiocare in Quebec, Canada, says that it is developing the world's first optical hypoglycemia detector and that it is now in full prototype and testing stage. “The Cybiocare OHD is designed as a totally non-invasive way to help prevent hypoglycemia among the millions of people with diabetes today,” its website says. The URL is
http://www.cybiocare.com/index.html
This site is down March 4, 2004:
Diabetex International Corp. in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, is developing a non-invasive blood glucose meter using radio frequency based on prototypes from Solid State Farms Inc., which with it has an exclusive licensing agreement for its patented technology. Diabetex says the meter will be ready for FDA filing in mid-2002. Because the meter will not require ancillary supplies, operating costs will be low. However, Diabetex plans to charge $3,500 for each meter. The URL is
http://www.diabetexintl.com/
Diametrics Medical Inc. in St. Paul, Minnesota, announced in an SEC filing January 14, 2005, that it too was working on a continous blood glucose monitor, but "in a hospital setting at the point-of-patient care." The company's URL — which is years out-of-date and doesn't say anything about its forthcoming continuous blood glucose monitor — is
http://www.diametrics.com
Updated May 4, 2006:
Diramed LLC in Carroll, Ohio, is developing a painless, non-invasive instrument for accurately measuring key components in the human body including glucose. The company's URL is
http://www.diramed.com/
Updated December 11, 2007:
Echo Therapeutics Inc. in Franklin, Massachusetts, has merged with Sontra Medical Corp., which was developing the Symphony Diabetes Management System for continuous glucose monitoring. The product consists of SonoPrep instrument, a glucose biosensor patch with RF transmitter, and a glucose meter. The URL is
http://www.echotx.com/
Fluent Biomedical Corp. in San Diego is an early development-stage company dedicated to creating the first class of practical non-invasive glucose monitoring technologies. Fluent is starting with spectroscopic techniques and signal analysis methods already well-demonstrated to predict in vivo blood glucose levels non-invasively and accurately and adding proprietary new nanotechnology-driven optical sources and newly enabled powerful calibration and error-checking methods to create compact, reliable and calibration-free systems. The Fluent approach plans to deliver the first clinically viable technologies for continuous non-invasive monitoring. The URL is
http://www.fluentbio.com
Revised July 4, 2006:
Fovi Optics Inc. in Santa Clara, California, has gone out of business, according to email from a member of the company's core management team. The URL is
http://www.fovioptics.com/
Added February 8, 2007:
Freedom Meditech Inc. in San Diego and the University of Toledo in February 2007 announced the consummation of an exclusive, royalty bearing, worldwide license for the continued development and commercialization of a patent-pending non-invasive ocular glucose measurement technology for use by people with diabetes. The consumer ready product will be the size of a pair of binoculars and will work by shining a light beam onto the eye (without touching the eye) to produce real-time glucose information, which is displayed on the device. The aim is to provide an alternative to the current finger prick method of testing blood glucose and eliminate the pain and biohazard waste disposal aspects of current glucose measurement devices.
Under the agreement, UT will provide Freedom Meditech with exclusive worldwide rights to the technology in exchange for financial consideration over time. The enabling proprietary technology is the product of over 10 years of invention by Dr. Brent Cameron, Professor of Bioengineering at UT.
The press release is online at
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070201/20070201005077.html?.v=1
CEO Craig Misrach tells me that Freedom Meditech's website is coming. It will be at
http://freedom-meditech.com/
Futrex Inc. in Gaithersburg, Maryland, heavily promoted its "Dream Beam Analyzer," a small, portable, non-invasive blood glucose measurement instrument. It promised to be the holy grail of blood glucose testing for diabetes—if and when it becomes available. It's not here yet. In fact, its Web site doesn't even mention it any more. The URL is
http://www.futrex.com/
GlucoLight Corporation in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is developing a low-cost non-invasive blood glucose monitor for home use by people with diabetes that the company calls the Sentris-100. GlucoLight's unique optical approach, microscatter technology, is based on patented technologies in the area of optical coherence tomography and low coherence interferometry. There is a working prototype with published clinical data on healthy volunteers. The company's first product, due late 2005, will be a "PDA size" non-invasive glucose monitor. They now plan to submit a premarket application to the FDA in early 2009. The URL is
http://mjschurman.web.aplus.net/Gluco_home.htm .
See also http://www.smartstartvf.com/2003_forum/company_profiles/glucolight-corporation.shtml
Glucon Medical Ltd in Boulder, Colorado, is a start up company developing non-invasive glucose monitoring devices for people with diabetes. The Glucon devices will provide continuous, accurate, and real-time glucose monitoring for clinical and personal use. It gets its blood glucose measurements directly from inside the blood vessels. It uses photoacoustic waves originating in the blood vessel to calculate the concentration of glucose in the blood vessel for which the U.S. Patent and Trademark office has issued a patent. The URL is
http://www.glucon.com/
GlucoSense Inc., majority-owned by GEN3 Partners in Boston, says that it is currently developing a wearable blood glucose monitor that is a truly non-invasive device that will cause no skin damage and can therefore be used for continuous monitoring. The URL is
http://www.gen3.com/glucosense/
Gluko MediTech AG, a subsidiary of SanguiBioTech AG, Witten, Germany, is developing a long-term implantable glucose sensor, which is designed to determine the glucose level in the interstitial fluid by means of an opto-electronic measuring device. The sensor is designed to remain inside the diabetic patient for a minimum of three years and to maintain smooth operation during that period. They expect to launch the product in 2003/2004. See
http://www.pagebleu.com/stratcom/level1/prod1298.htm
GluMetrics LLC in Marina, California, has developed a novel optical glucose sensor that could be used to provide continuous monitoring of glucose levels. Its core technology, GluGlow, is a glucose-sensing polymer that has a broad range of applications in clinical medicine. This chemical complex glows in the presence of glucose. This technology can be used to measure blood sugar without the use of enzyme-based chemical reactions, which have been the basis of legacy technology and which are plagued by instability and sensitivity to body chemistry. The URL is
http://www.Glumetrics.com. See also
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/index.php?newsid=6673
Updated December 11, 2007:
GlySens Inc. in San Diego is currently developing a long term continuous glucose monitoring system. The system is comprised of two elements: a long-lived fully implanted sensor and an external monitor with a display. The URL is
http://www.glysens.com/
Added October 10, 2006
HealthPia America in Palisades Park, New Jersey, says that it has developed the world's first all-in-one blood glucose meter and cell phone and service for managing diabetes remotely. Its blood glucose meter, the GlucoPack, can be fitted onto regular cell phones. The URL is
http://www.healthpia.us/
Hitachi Ltd. in Tokyo announced in February 2004 the development of a non-invasive blood glucose monitoring device using its unique measuring technologies. The device is intended to compute blood glucose levels by using special sensors to detect physiological parameters related to the body's metabolism, such as thermal energy, oxygen supply, and blood flow. The company plans for the device to go on sale in 2005. The URL is
http://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/040223.html
Hypoguard USA Inc. in Edina, Minnesota, is developing several new meters, named the Dart, the Flight (or Arrow), and the Quiver, according to its 2001 annual report of December 2001 at http://www.medisys-group.com/Medisys%20R&A-2001.pdf. See also http://www.medisys-group.com/intro/products/hypo/1-2.htm, which also discusses the Marathon continuous meter, and http://www.hypoguard.com/content/content.asp?content=2:
"Development of the first of Hypoguard's proprietary biosensor based products, Dart, is now complete. Clinical trials of the product were recently conducted in the US and the results of the trials were satisfactory. The FDA has cleared the meter for marketing in the U.S.
"Rapid progress has also been made on the development of Flight, the 100-test disposable glucose monitoring product, which again uses our proprietary biosensor. The product, which is a fully integrated unit, requires no handling of strips and no calibration prior to use. It is directed towards the growing population of Type II diabetics, who test less frequently, but represent the highest growth segment of the market. Fully operational prototypes of the device have now been produced and the next stage is design optimisation, which will be followed by clinical trials and submission of the product to the FDA. To date, this product has generated a high level of interest amongst potential partners, both in the retail sector and amongst the large global glucose monitoring companies." The Flight seems to have been renamed the Arrow. See http://www.medisys-group.com/intro/products/hypo/1-2.htm.
"Development of the Quiver system, combining a re-usable meter utilising disposable cartridges, each of which contains 50 glucose monitoring strips, is also progressing well. Quiver is designed for use by diabetics who test frequently. The meter is a robust device with a high level of functionality and extensive feature set, incorporating a convenient cartridge system which slots into the unit. For the diabetic, this avoids the need to carry a separate pot of strips and the inconvenience of having to insert a new strip into the meter each time a test is carried out."
A joint venture between Hypoguard and Elan Corporation is developing a minimally invasive continuous glucose monitoring system called the Marathon.
Infratec Inc. in Wilton, Connecticut, is developing a hand-held device that is inserted in the ear to measure blood glucose levels non-invasively. It isolates and measures blood glucose levels from the eardrum using the body's natural heat emission, or thermal radiation. The method and instrument are based on the discovery that natural mid-infrared body emissions change, depending on the glucose concentration of the tissue. It is simply placed in the ear, much like an ear thermometer, for about 10 seconds. No blood is drawn. The first published clinical study of this device appears in the December 2002 issue of Diabetes Care, pp. 2268-75. The full text of the article is on-line at http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/25/12/2268.
Infratec doesn't have a website. But you can see also the University of Connecticut Health Center news release online at http://www.uchc.edu/ocomm/newsreleases02/nov02/glucosemonitor.html.
InLight Solutions Inc., formerly known as Rio Grande Medical Technologies Inc. in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is currently focusing on the development of a non-invasive blood glucose monitoring device. The company has had a strategic partnership with LifeScan since 1993. Rio Grande draws on the expertise of Sandia National Laboratories in spectroscopy and chemometrics (multivarient statistics applied to spectroscopy) through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). The URL is
http://www.inlightsolutions.com/
Institut für Chemo- und Biosensorik in Münster, Germany, has developed a system called NIMOS, a non-invasive monitoring system for continuous glucose measurement. Sampling is achieved by continuous suction of interstitial tissue fluid through a very small blister, which is opened automatically. The URL is
http://www.glucose-monitor.com
Integ Inc. in St. Paul, Minnesota, was developing the LifeGuideTM System, a bloodless glucose meter. In October 2000 Inverness Medical Technology Inc. in Waltham, Massachusetts, announced that it was acquiring Integ, and subsequently LifeScan acquired Inverness. The URL was
http://www.integonline.com, but no current information is available.
Integrity Applications in Ashkelon, Israel, hopes to introduce the first, real non-invasive device, the GlucoTrack. They say that it will measure glucose levels with a high degree of accuracy and reliability. The device will be the first capable of both singular and continuous measurements. GlucoTrack will be the only device that uses different techniques simultaneously in order to increase reliability: ultrasound, conductivity, and heat capacity. It tests on the ear with an ear ring. The URL is
http://www.integrity-app.com
International Diagnostic Technologies Inc. in Madison, Alabama, says it has "a breakthrough in technology that should provide the world's first easy-to-use, accurate, cost-effective, non-invasive glucose monitor." Its Photonic Molecular Probe™ employs near infrared (NIR) light but does not rely on linear absorption. "The crux of what we do," writes International Diagnostic Technologies President Frank L. Madarasz, "is in the preparation of the input beam, which involves multiple frequencies, our data acquisition, and a unique signal processing methodology, heretofore not employed in the physiological arena, based on conditional probabilities. All this is presently the subject of a pending patent." He says that the signal processing uses Bayesian statistics, which frankly didn't mean a thing to me until I looked it up at Britannica.com. A long article there says in part that "Bayesian methods...provide alternatives [to classical statistical methods] that allow one to combine prior information about a population parameter with information contained in a sample to guide the statistical inference process. A prior probability distribution for a parameter of interest is specified first. Sample information is then obtained and combined through an application of Bayes's theorem to provide a posterior probability distribution for the parameter. The posterior distribution provides the basis for statistical inferences concerning the parameter...." The URL is
http://www.idtscience.com/
Updated July 16, 2006:
Invictus Scientific Inc. in San Diego is the exclusive U.S. distributor of the Rightest GM 300 blood glucose meter manufactured by Bionime Corporation (q.v.). The URL is
http://invictusscientific.com/
Updated December 3, 2007:
iSense Corp. in Wilsonville, Oregon, is dedicated to the development of a minimally-invasive continuous glucose sensor that it calls the iSense Flexible Micro-wire Sensor. The URL is
http://www.isensecorp.com/
Kumetrix Inc. in Union City, California, is developing a painless blood glucose monitoring system. The system consists of a hand-held, battery-powered, electronic monitor—about the size of an audio cassette tape—that accepts a cartridge loaded with up to 10 disposable sampling devices. Each disposable consists of the micro-needle and a receptacle into which the blood sample is drawn. To take a measurement, a patient loads the cartridge into the electronic monitor and simply presses the monitor against the skin. This action causes the micro-needle to penetrate the skin and draw a very small volume of blood. Kumetrix has entered into an agreement with Bayer Corp. to exclusive rights to further evaluate the Kumetrix silicon micro-needle technology for commercial application in diabetic blood glucose monitoring. The URL is
http://www.sugartrac.net/ and http://www.sugartrac.com/
LighTouch Medical Inc. in New Hope, Pennsylvania, hopes to begin the FDA approval process by the end of 2002 and secure approval for a home use device that will be a safe, painless, non-invasive substitute for the finger-stick method. The company's patented technology relies on a combination of Raman based spectroscopy and a proprietary tissue modulation process to make direct blood glucose measurements. The URL is
http://www.lightouchmedical.com/
Luminous Medical in Carlsbad, California, is developing a continuous critical care monitor for hospital use. It will continuously measure glucose and several blood gas parameters by spectroscopically analyzing blood as it passes through a disposable optical flow cell. The system utilizes an established optical measurement platform licensed from InLight Solutions. The URL is
http://www.luminousmedical.com/
Added October 10, 2006
MedApps Inc. in Scottsdale, Arizona, has developed a blood-glucose monitoring device called the D-PAL that will transmit blood glucose results via cell phone to the MedApps server. The company plans to begin a pilot study of this system soon. The URL is http://www.medapps.net/Documents/AZRepOct052006.pdf
MicroSense International LLC in St. Louis, Missouri, terminated operations in 2003 and shut down, according to an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It was developing a minimally invasive blood glucose meter, named "Pushita."
MysticMD Inc. in Groton, Connecticut, is a research and development start-up company aimed at driving new product development and commercialization through selective partnering. Their approach is to extend their unique capabilities by leveraging the complementary capabilities of their partners. They are applying novel approaches and processes to develop and commercialize several new applications of carbon nanotube technology including electrochemical blood glucose monitoring test strips.
In addition, MysticMD are licensing their two visual test strip products, Spartan and Millennium, to DIVITAL PPH, a start-up company based in Poland. The Spartan strip is a wipe strip-basically a substitute for the Roche Chemstrip bG visual test strip. Millennium is a new product category, the first no wipe color match test strip available on the market. Both strips are single-use, disposables that reliably report blood glucose readings in the range of 40 to 400 mg/dl. DIVITAL intend to manufacture and sell both strips in Poland and other countries in Eastern Europe. Contact them at 860-961-8052 and their URL is http://www.mysticmd.com/.
Added December 12, 2005
Nexense Ltd. in Yavne, Israel, has filed a patent application to use photoacoustic spectroscopy to non-invasively measure glucose.
NIR Diagnostics Inc. in Campbellville, Ontario, Canada (formerly known as CME Telemetrix Inc. in Waterloo, Ontario), says its "primary research goal...remains the completion of GlucoNIR, a diagnostic device for non-invasive monitoring of glucose levels. " When the company was still known as CME Telemetrix it said that it was using near infrared light. The company's URL is
http://www.cmetele.com/
Added November 9, 2005:
The Non Invasive Blood Glucose Project in Kelvin, a suburb of Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa, will use visible light spectrometry, according to its website. The URL is
http://www.nibgm.co.za/
Added December 11, 2007:
Oculir Inc. has shut down, according to third-party information I have received.
OptiScan Biomedical Corp. in Alameda, California, several years ago was reported to be developing a non-invasive blood glucose meter using mid-infrared radiation spectroscopy. See http://www.ieee.org/organizations/pubs/newsletters/leos/apr98/midinfrared.htm. But the company appears to have shifted its emphasis away from non-invasive meters.
OrSense Ltd., based in Rehovot, Israel, is dedicated to the pioneering and development of non-invasive monitors of blood analytes such as glucose, hemoglobin, and cholesterol. The company's innovative electro-optical technology performs non-invasive blood measurements by means of a finger probe, eliminating the need to draw blood by needle-stick. This involves stopping the flow of blood at the index finger by pressuring it gently, and then examining it with an optical probe using sophisticated algorithms. This company's first meter, the NBM-100, uses red near-infrared occlusion spectroscopy that also can provide continuous results. The URL is
http://www.orsense.com/home.html
Added May 21, 2007:
Osmolife A/S is a merger of Lifecare A/S of Bergen, Norway, and IQ Micro Inc. of West Palm Beach, Florida, according to http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=255376. Lifecare previously announced that it is developing the Sencell microsensor for injection under the skin to continuously transmit data wirelessly to a watch on the arm. The URL is
http://www.lifecare.no/
Pelikan Technologies Inc. in Palo Alto, California, is developing a highly integrated blood glucose monitoring system that is able to obtain a blood sample in a single step with reduced pain. It will be, the company says, be significantly more hygienic and reliable than currently marketed glucose monitoring systems. Pelikan to launch it in 2003. The URL is
http://pelikantechnologies.com
Update March 15, 2005: The site is down, and I understand unofficially that the company is in trouble.
Pendragon Medical Ltd. in Zurich, Switzerland, is developing a continuous sensing device, the Pendragon NI-CGMD, to provide frequent non-invasive blood glucose measurements. Pendragon's glucose sensor is based on radio wave impedance spectroscopy. The URL is
http://www.pendragonmedical.com/
Phoenix Biosystem in Livermore, California, is developing a painless and easy-to-use nanoliter-size body fluid (blood or interstitial fluid) sampling product for continuous glucose monitoring by people with diabetes using silicon-based MEMS technology. The company's Web site is still under construction, but you can read about their work at
http://www.ardesta.com/1network/netcom11.asp
Pindi Products, based in Reno, Nevada, is focusing on developing a compact, pain-free non-invasive blood glucose monitor. How? "The patient will apply a film to their finger, insert their finger into the device, and in approximately 15 seconds, obtain an accurate reading of their blood glucose level." The URL is
http://www.pindi.com/
PowderChek Diagnostics in Freemont, California, is a spinoff of drug delivery firm PowderJect Pharmaceuticals PLC in Oxford, England. According to "Keeping Watch On Glucose" in IEEE Spectrum Online at , the company is working on a system that uses a high-pressure blast of fine particles to make holes in the skin, followed by a vacuum to extract interstitial fluid. The skin poration step is done with a handheld device that is currently used for needle-less injection of pharmaceuticals and vaccines.
PreciSense in Hørsholm, Denmark, says that its PreciSense System utilizes Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer, which is directly related to the concentration of glucose. The PreciSense meter will be non-invasive and continuous. The URL is
http://www.precisense.dk
Q Step Technologies Inc. says on its website only that "Our technology will transform the way people monitor their blood sugar." Its phone number is (925) 867-2981, which happens to be in San Ramon, California. The company tells me that it is developing a non-invasive blood glucose monitor based on proprietary photonic technology.The URL is
http://www.qstep.com
Rosedale Medical Inc. in Princeton, New Jersey, "is developing products that will enhance blood glucose monitoring for diabetic patients," according to a venture capital firm, Versant Ventures. The Princeton address comes from another venture capitalist, Pequot Ventures. I can't find any other information about the company.
Samsung Fine Chemicals Co. Ltd. in Korea at one time said on its Web sites that it has developed a hand-held device, named the "TouchTrak Pro 200," which measures blood glucose levels without a blood sample, the first such device to be commercialized in the world. Commercial production began in October 1998. The TouchTrak uses a non-invasive electromagnetic radiant ray and is for hospital use. Samsung also said the price of this meter is about $30,000 and that Samsung Fine Chemicals is also developing a personal use meter, the TouchTrak HC 300, expected to enter the market around the end of 1999. It will cost about $3,000, according to an e-mail message from D.H. Kim of the Medical Devices Team at Samsung Fine Chemicals sent to Jud McCraine and posted by him on misc.health.diabetes on November 30, 1998. Samsung no longer has any information about its TouchTrak meters on-line. However, a German site has a picture of the TouchTrak Pro 200 at
http://www.diabetiker-mailbox.com/bz/a3_834.html
Sensors for Medicine and Science Inc. (S4MS) in Germantown, Maryland, says that it "S4MS is working on a sensor so small, it could be injected into the fatty layer below the skin to measure blood sugar levels for people with diabetes." The URL is
http://www.s4ms.com/
Update June 20, 2006
Sensys Medical (formerly known as Instrumentation Metrics Inc.) in Chandler, Arizona, is developing a near-infrared blood glucose meter, which they call the GTS 1000. The most recent information from the company says that they plan to launch the device in the United States by the first quarter of 2009 with a retail price of $59.
Earlier the company stated that "It utilizes diffuse reflectance near-infrared spectroscopy and a proprietary structure driven chemometric analysis algorithm. The system will be priced in excess of $10,000. Later versions will be directed at consumer markets, will be hand held and priced in the $2-5,000 range." Chief Operating Officer Stephen Monfre told a meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston, "Our device is about the furthest along. All a patient has to do is place his arm on a metal stand, similar to that of a computer tower." He said that Sensys expected to seek Food and Drug Administration approval by the end of 2003 and if all goes well begin marketing the device at the end of 2004.
Mr. Monfre wrote me that this device was intended for use in the physician's office for specific blood glucose monitoring applications. “We conducted several pilot clinical trials and preparing to enter into manufacturing so that we could conduct our pivotal trial for the FDA. During that time, the company made some significant technology advances that allowed the company to move to a device that is currently about the size of a laptop computer and is about 3" thick (mostly for screen readability). In addition, we obtained improvements in our accuracy that we believe will allow Sensys Medical to seek replacement labeling rather than adjunctive labeling in the home environment; however, that decision is for the FDA to determine, based on the clinical data we provide.
“For the past year, Sensys Medical has been conducting several tests to incorporate human factors engineering for the home-use environment. This is an area of product development that is often ignored, but is necessary for a successful product. Sensys anticipates conducting its final pilot study this year and enter manufacturing towards the end of this year. If we are able to maintain our manufacturing schedule, we should be conducting our pivotal trial for the FDA during the first part of 2007. After completion of this trial, Sensys will submit its PreMarket Approval application to the FDA for review.”
The URL is
http://www.sensysmedical.com/home.html
Sentek Group Inc. in Pittsburgh at one time said that its first product offering will be the Glucoview diagnostic contact lens for the diabetic glucose testing market. But it no longer appears to have a Web site.
Added: November 11, 2006:
Solianis Monitoring AG in Zürich, Switzerland, is a new Swiss Medical device company developing a non-invasive, continuous glucose monitoring device for people with diabetes. The sensor system being developed by Solianis uses impedance spectroscopy. The URL is
http://www.solianis.com/cms/index.php?id=1,2,0,0,1,0
SpectRx Inc. in Norcross, Georgia, says that it "is developing a painless, bloodless, alternative for conventional finger stick personal blood glucose meters. The technology uses a proprietary method which is designed to painlessly create a tiny micropore in the outer, dead layer of skin through which interstitial fluid (ISF) is collected and measured for glucose. To prevent the sensation of pain, the micropore technique includes a self-regulating feature to insure that there is no damage to the viable tissues beneath the layer of dead skin cells." The company's URL is
http://www.spectrx.com/
Spire Corp. in Bedford, Massachusetts says that it is developing a non-invasive blood glucose meter using terahertz radiation. The company believes that terahertz radiation has wavelengths that are longer than visible and infrared, but shorter than microwaves, and may be the only radiation source that can separate glucose from other substances, according to http://www.nanoinvestornews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3295. The company URL is
http://www.spirecorp.com/
Synthetic Blood International in Kettering, Ohio, says that it "has developed an implantable glucose biosensor to monitor blood glucose without the need for finger sticks." The URL is
http://www.sybd.com/
Technical Chemicals & Products Inc. (TCPI) in Pompano Beach, Florida, said May 15, 2001, that it had stopped working on its TD Glucose Monitoring System. The company doesn't have the funds it needs to make the improvements needed in the system, which is completely non-invasive, non-toxic, and safe. TCPI's URL is
http://www.techchem.com/
TecMed Inc. in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is apparently out of business. It’s website, http://www.tecmed.com, has not been updated in several years.
TheraSense Inc. in Alameda, California, is one of the pioneers in alternative site meters. Its FreeStyle and FreeStyle Tracker meters use the smallest drop of blood of any meter now on the market. But TheraSense is also developing a continuous blood glucose meter, the FreeStyle Navigator Continuous Glucose Monitor. The TheraSense approach is somewhat similar to that of Medtronic Diabetes. Its Continuous Glucose Monitoring Device will utilize a disposable, miniaturized electrochemical sensor that can be easily inserted under the skin by the user using a spring-loaded insertion device. The sensor is inserted across the outer skin to monitor glucose levels every five minutes, with the ability to store results for future analysis. A major difference between the CGMD and CGMS is the size of the needle with the TheraSense needle at less than 10 percent the length of Medtronic Diabetes's. TheraSense designed its system to measure interstitial fluid. This requires a needle only long enough to cross the outer layer of skin and makes the needle essentially pain-free. One hurdle faced by the company is making the glucose readings accurate using such a small sample size. TheraSense submitted a Premarket Approval application (PMA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its FreeStyle Navigator Continuous Glucose Monitor in late 2003. The company's announcement says that the FreeStyle Navigator is a continuous glucose monitor designed to replace traditional in vitro glucose testing by providing users with real time glucose data, hypo- and hyperglycemic alarms and trend analysis. Navigator utilizes TheraSense's patented Wired Enzyme technology and is designed to measure glucose levels in the patient's interstitial fluid every sixty seconds and transmit the results to a wireless pager-sized receiver that may be worn on a belt or carried in a pocket or purse. Its Web site deals with this future product at http://abbottdiabetescare.com/freestylenavigator/qa.aspx.
VeraLight Inc. in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is an independent spinout of InLight Solutions to focus on a comprehensive approach to non-invasive diabetes screening. VeraLight has developed the Scout instrument employing fluorescence spectroscopy to non-invasively measure advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) in the skin of a subject's forearm. The concentration of AGEs in the skin is an excellent indicator of cumulative hyperglycemic exposure and is highly correlated with the development of diabetes. The URL is
http://www.veralight.com/
Visionary Medical Products Corporation in Reno, Nevada, with a marketing office in Beverly Hills, California, at one time said that it was developing a non-invasive blood glucose meter that reads optical characteristics of the eye, rather than blood samples taken from the user. But the company reportedly is out of business. It still maintains a place holding website at
http://www.vmpc.com
Visual Pathways Inc. in Prescott, Arizona, is designing and developing the GlucoScope monitor, which is intended to be a portable, non-invasive, hand-held device. People with diabetes will be able to look into something like a small pair of binoculars and activate it with the press of a button. In a few seconds your blood glucose concentration will be displayed. The GlucoScope monitor is currently in the research and development stage and U.S. and international patents are pending. The URL is
http://www.vispath.com
Added October 10, 2006
VivaScan Corporation in West Boylston, Massachusetts, says that it has developed a noninvasive blood glucose monitor. It gives results in less than 25 seconds. It uses patented near-infrared technology, determining blood glucose levels by shining a low-level laser beam through the patient's earlobe. A second prototype, also in development, shines light onto the pad of the finger. The URL is
http://www.vivascancorporation.com/
Revised March 2, 2006:
VivoMedical Inc. (formerly MedOptix Inc.) in Cupertino, California, is developing a unique non-invasive glucose-monitoring technology based on glucose specific (non-optical) measurement of glucose present on the skin surface. A single-use disposable skin patch will measure glucose in the sweat. It is a surrogate for glucose in the blood, in a similar way that glucose in interstitial fluid is.
People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes would simply apply a small dermal patch to the skin surface, wait a few moments, take a glucose reading with a cell phone cell sized reader, and dispose of the blood-free patch. The company is currently conducting studies on adult subjects in California. The URL is
http://www.vivomedical.com/
Added January 31, 2006:
Zyvex Corporation in Richardson, Texas, and Diabetech LP in Dallas are collaborating in the development of a continuous blood glucose monitor. The system has three main components: A very small implanted glucose sensor, a dual-mode wireless handheld patient device, and automated connections to the GlucoDYNAMIX Diabetes Intervention System for real-time remote patient monitoring and intervention.

Other Resources

William T. Cefalu, MD, and Gordon C. Weir, MD, “New technologies in diabetes care,” Patient Care, September 2003;37:66-78. This article includes a lot of new information about forthcoming blood glucose monitoring devices. The URL is http://www.patientcareonline.com/be_core/content/
journals/p/data/2003/0915/0903technology.html.
Janet A. Tamada, Matthew Lesho, and Michael J. Tierney have an excellent article, "Keeping Watch On Glucose: New monitors help fight the long-term complications of diabetes" in the April 2, 2002, issue of IEEE Spectrum Online at http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/publicfeature/apr02/glu.html
Michael J. Tierney has another an excellent article, "Transdermal glucose monitoring opens a new age of diabetes management" in the May 2003 issue of IVD Technology, online at http://www.devicelink.com/ivdt/archive/03/05/008.html
My article, "The Race for a Painless Monitor," in the November 1997 issue of Diabetes Wellness Letter reviewed the most likely candidates to produce the first non-invasive monitor. See
http://www.mendosa.com/painless.htm
The Children with Diabetes Web page "Non-invasive Blood Glucose Meters" keeps up-to-date with the latest developments. See
http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/d_06_e00.htm
John Walsh reviews "New Technologies In Testing" on his Web site. The URL is
http://www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes_technology/new_monitoring.php
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse provides research data on the status of non-invasive meters. The URL is
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/diabetes/summary/noninmet/noninmet.htm
"Bloodless testing: Non-invasive glucose monitors for diabetics are on the way, but cost could be a problem" is an article in the October 1998 issue of Scientific American magazine. The URL is
http://www.sciam.com/1998/1098issue/1098techbus1.html
The April 1998 issue of the "LEOS Newsletter" of the IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society has several excellent technical articles about non-nvasive blood glucose testing. The URL is
http://www.ieee.org/organizations/pubs/newsletters/leos/apr98/contents.htm

A1C Meters and Kits

A1C Meters
1. Metrika Inc. in Sunnyvale, California, just became a Bayer subsidiary and is currently marketing its multiuse A1C test device called the A1CNow+ to physicians and will offer it to consumers in 2007. The URL is
  http://www.metrika.com/
2. Provalis plc, a British healthcare company, said that its Glycosal diabetes test of A1C has been granted prescription home use status in the U.S., meaning that doctors can prescribe it for use at home by any patient with diabetes. Marketed in the U.S. as the Cholestech GDX for $895.00 and the Bio-Rad Micromat II for $3,308.00, it is, however, priced for office use. Glycosal is standardized to the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) and has been certified by the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program. It uses boron affinity chromatography to separate glycated hemoglobin from non-glycated. The URL is
  http://www.provalis.com.
3. Quotient Diagnostics in London, England, is developing a low-cost instrument and cartridge that will permit A1C testing at full standards of laboratory precision and accuracy within the scope of a single clinic visit. While initially the company is concentrating on rapid, easy, and inexpensive A1C testing at the point of care, a company representative advises me that the technology is simple enough to adapt for home use. Although at first the company is focusing on A1C, they intend to add fructosamine testing and possibly others such as microalbumin. The URL is
  http://www.quotientdiagnostics.co.uk
Revised March 20, 2007
A1C Kits
Three companies now offer test kits that allow FDA-approved at-home testing of A1C (SpectRx has discontinued its SimpleChoice A1C test kit). You send in the sample and get the results back in the mail.
1. BioSafe Laboratories Inc. in Lake Forest, Illinois, offers the BioSafe Collection Kit for $24.95. BioSafe's kit uses a filter paper process. The URL is
  http://www.ebiosafe.com/frame.asp?Current_Category=1&Current_Product=18.
2. Diabetes Technologies Inc. in Thomasville, Georgia, offers the Accu-Base Hemoglobin A1C Sample Collection Kit for $21.95 plus $3.85 shipping. It is available either over-the-counter or by prescription.The URL is
  http://www.diabetestechnologies.com/.
3. FlexSite Diagnostics Inc. in Palm City, Florida, offers the A1C At Home collection kit. FlexSite's kit uses a filter paper process. One test is currently (June 24, 2006) on sale for $9.95. The URL is either
  http://www.flexsite.com/ and http://www.alwaysincontrol.com/.

Microalbumin Kits

Elevated levels of urinary albumin is also known as microalbumin. Elevated albumin is an early sign of possible renal (kidney) disease.

Revised March 2, 2005:
Diabetes Technologies Inc. in Thomasville, Georgia, offers the AccuBase µAlb (microalbumin) urinary albumin screening kit for $21.95. The URL is
http://www.diabetestechnologies.com
FlexSite Diagnostics Inc. in Palm City, Florida, offers the Kidney Screen At Home, a urine sample collection kit for mail-in microalbumin laboratory testing. One test is $24.95 plus $3.95 for shipping and handling. The URL is
http://www.flexsite.com/pgs/220.html

GlycoMark: 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG)

This test of circulating levels of 1,5-anhydroglucitol zeros in on your blood glucose spikes after you eat.

Revised July 14, 2006:
The BioMarker Group in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, introduced the 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) test in the United States as the GlycoMark. The URL is
http://www.glycomark.com/

Glycated Albumin Test

Albumin is a serum protein in the blood that can be measured with precision and has a turnover or replacement time of 2 to 3 weeks.

Revised July 14, 2006:
Epinex Diagnostics Inc. in Irvine, California, is developing a rapid test for glycated albumin, the G1A Rapid Diabetes Monitoring Index Test, that utilizes disposable test strips and a matched instrument for reading the result. The period of measurement is 1 month, similar to that of fructosamine, which is 2 to 3 weeks, and less than that of A1C, which is 2 to 3 months. The URL is
http://www.epinex.com/index.html

Other Resources

The Children with Diabetes Web page "HbA1C Measurement" has a lot more information about Hemoglobin A1c testing. The URL is
http://www.diabetes123.com/d_0n_040.htm.

Go to Neuropathy Web Resources Page

Go back to Software Web Resources Page

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Since this information is constantly changing, readers are urged to email corrections and updates to me at mendosa@mendosa.com.

If you have a question about your health, please go to either Diabetes Questions & Answers at the Diabetes Monitor, or use the Question Form for the Diabetes Team at Children with Diabetes.

David Mendosa
993 E. Moorhead Circle Suite 2F
Boulder, Colorado 80305
E-mail: mendosa@mendosa.com

On-line Diabetes Resources

Part 14: Blood Glucose Meters

By David Mendosa

Tracking Diabetes on the Web Since 1995 Most Recent Update: April 20, 2008

Existing Non-invasive and/or Continuous Meters

New Book: The Pursuit of Noninvasive Glucose

Current Blood Glucose Meters

Free Meters, Test Strips, and Lancets

Other Resources

Forthcoming Meters

Non-invasive and/or Continuous or Wireless

Other Resources

A1C Meters and Kits

Microalbumin Kits

GlycoMark: 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG)

Glycated Albumin Test

Other Resources

Tracking Diabetes on the Web Since 1995
Most Recent Update: April 20, 2008