New app will allow diabetics to manage condition on their iPhone

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 19:42 EST, 11 March 2012 | UPDATED: 06:03 EST, 12 March 2012

Diabetics will be able to manage their condition with an Apple iPhone thanks to a device unveiled today.

The £48 glucose monitor allows patients to check their blood sugar levels at any time using the phone.

The iBGStar device, which attaches to an Apple iPhone or iPod touch, comes with a free Diabetes Manager App that makes it possible to store, track and analyse medical data.

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The Sanofi iBGStar blood glucose monitor, which connects directly into the Apple iPhone and iPod touch, allows people with insulin-dependent diabetes to manage the blood glucose levels

The Sanofi iBGStar blood glucose monitor allows people with insulin-dependent diabetes to manage the blood glucose levels

Accurate monitoring of blood glucose is essential to the management of diabetes, which affects 2.9million people in the UK.

It is especially important for those with Type-1 diabetes, an auto-immune disease that can lead to dangerous rises in blood sugar levels.

 

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High blood sugar can lead to serious complications including damage to the heart, kidneys, nerves and eyes.

Traditional blood glucose monitors are palm-sized devices that test tiny drops of blood obtained by pricking the skin.

iBGStar, available in Boots, works in the same way but is just one inch long and plugs straight into an iPhone or iPod Touch. Software carries out the analysis and flashes the results on to the screen.

Out with the old: Traditional blood glucose monitors test drops of blood taken by pricking the skin

Out with the old: Traditional blood glucose monitors test drops of blood taken by pricking the skin

It also allows users to follow changing trends and variations, and factors in information such as carbohydrate intake, insulin injections and exercise.

Sarah Johnson, from the type-1 diabetes research charity JDRF, said: 'Good blood glucose control is vital to reducing the long-term effects of diabetes, but it can be difficult and demanding to achieve.

'As such, we welcome all developments in technology that can help people with type-1 and type-2 diabetes take control of their condition.'

Dr Andrew Hockey, medical director for diabetes at the pharmaceutical company Sanofi, which produces the iBGStar, said the device was a 'huge step forward'.

'It harnesses the power of the latest technology to empower people with diabetes to manage their condition on a day-to-day basis,” he added.

The BGM connects directly into the Apple iPhone and iPod touch

The BGM connects directly into the Apple iPhone and iPod touch

Video: Launch of the iBGStar device

 
Diabetes app for iPhone
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Comments (15)

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I think that this is very handy for people so they don't need to carry there monitor around with them! It is much better for teenagers as-well because it's more technology so it won't be as embarrassing brilliant idea!

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Nothing new here. Applications for PCs have been around for 10 years or more, and BG meters are available with software inbuilt. Just another gimmick in my opinion.

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I am interested in the cost of the strips. This app hardware is already 3x the cost of most meters. The strips will presumably be covered by the NHS, but will you want to bother your GP for yet another set of strips when you probably have a stash matched to your old meter already ? I am a sucker for iPhone apps but my IPhone with the meter app atteched is bigger than my old meter which is very neat and comes with a pouch and a compartment for the finger pricker. If you need to have a computerised record of your blood sugars, you can do it on your PC or lap top with a Bayer USB app at a fraction of the cost. There are also more 'primitive' iPhone apps for recording your blood suar, transcribing it from your old meter. Apple needs to reduce the price of this system or I DON'T GET IT, and I won't buy it.. Boots the Chemist has a reputation for overcaharging and it is very bad news that Apple UK is working with Boots in marketing this concept. I am a diabetic, but this won't help me.

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There are no hidden costs - all prescription items, and that includes test strips, are free for diabetic patients. - Sesachili, Holsworthy, 12/3/2012 09:34 Glad to hear you have better healthcare in the UK than we do here. You may get a monitor for free but you have to pay for the test strips.

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Whatever happened to the idea that telephones were for making telephone calls? I don't use my glucose meter to send text messages, and I don't want to use my phone to test my blood sugar thank you.

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and your stuffed if the battery goes flat. the world would stop if the mobile network collasped

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Get this....if you take a photo of your own face, you can see if you're nose is running too. Come on, who is going to trust a phone app with there health??

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So can I get an iphone on prescription as well? Because us diabetics get the stuff to test our blood sugar on free prescription.

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I didn't know I had an auto-immune disease DM. Thanks for putting me straight! I don't think I'd like my BG monitor connected to my phone thanks. My exisiting monitor is about the size of a matchbox and only cost £10. I already have a management app on the iphone (one of many to choose from) too.

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I suppose its handy in as much as you can integrate it into your Iphone. But its not that ground breaking as a lot of meters these days can be linked to PC's and download the same info. Mind you lots of long term Type 1 Diabetics are so used to managing the condition that they tend not to bother keeping detailed daly records because they know their condition so well.

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