|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Despite the best efforts of glucose meter makers and the most compelling prose crafted by their advertising copywriters, the devices people with diabetes use to keep tabs on their blood glucose are not exactly painless.
The first generation of continuous glucose monitors now reaching the market can reduce the discomfort of people with diabetes, according to clinical studies reported at the American Diabetes Association's 66th Scientific Sessions, held June 9–13 in Washington, D.C.
Two continuous glucose meters have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to date. In March, FDA approved the STS Continuous Glucose Monitoring System developed by San Diego, Calif.–based DexCom. In April, the agency approved Medtronic's MiniMed Paradigm, which is integrated with an insulin pump.
Both devices employ a tiny wirelike sensor that is inserted beneath the skin and remains in place for 1–3 days. Data are transmitted from the sensor to the monitoring device worn by the patient.
FDA approval is pending for Abbott's entry into the continuous glucose meter field, the Freestyle Navigator.
Continuous monitoring can significantly improve glycemic excursions, according to reported and published research data. In a paper in Diabetes Care in January, a study with 91 people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes showed that the DexCom device reduced exposure to hyperglycemia without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia.1
At the scientific sessions, Timothy Bailey, MD, of North County Endocrine in Escondido, Calif., presented data showing that use of the DexCom monitor led to a 1.03% reduction in glycated hemoglobin (A1C) over a 12-week period. Presentations also supported the value of the Freestyle Navigator and the MiniMed Paradigm.
As clinicians and patients get used to monitoring glucose levels with fewer needlesticks, the next generation of monitoring devices that are completely noninvasive is waiting in the wings.
U.K.-based Lein Diagnostics unveiled its OneLook system at the ADA Scientific Sessions. The system calculates blood glucose optically by measuring the reflectivity of low-power light shined into the eye.
Another device, the NBM-100, made by the Israeli company OrSense, measures glucose by analyzing near-infrared light through the skin. Hypo-Mon, made by AiMedics, in Australia, measures physiological glucose levels and A1C with a chest-belt transmitter that warns patients of hypoglycemia.
Data also were presented demonstrating the value of another noninvasive device, the Aprise, made by Glucon of Boulder, Colo. The Aprise differs from the other devices in that it employs a photo-acoustic method to determine blood glucose levels.
References
CiteULike 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||
|
| DOC News | Diabetes | Diabetes Care | Clinical Diabetes | Diabetes Spectrum |
