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| Diabetes Monitor |
The device is also said to give more accurate readings than finger-stick devices currently on the market.
GlucoReader can be used by both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. GlucoReader provides constant monitoring of blood sugar levels minus the pain associated with finger-stick methods. The device can be worn as a patch on the diabetic’s shoulder.
Type 1 diabetics may benefit more from the device, since they require constant monitoring throughout the day. But GlucoReader is still beneficial to Type 2 diabetics, who can use the device to spot-check blood sugar levels after eating.
GlucoReader was designed by four engineering students who decided to form a startup company (MobiLIFE) after friends and relatives were diagnosed with diabetes. MobiLIFE founder and president, Brian Chan, said they wanted the device to be something diabetics could “put on in the morning and take off at night.”
In addition to being more accurate and pain-free, GlucoReader is also a more viable option for those living on a budget or fixed income. Finger-stick devices cost anywhere between $1,000 to $3,000 and are not covered by insurance. It’s estimated that GlucoReader will only cost diabetics around $500 or $600. GlucoReader will also be covered by insurance, provided MobiLIFE can prove the device provides results accurate enough to replace pricey finger-stick devices.
The monitor is still in the testing phase right now, and the startup has begun looking for investors and applying for government grants, as well as grants offered by academic and nonprofit organizations.
The new monitor was showcased Saturday in a competition hosted by the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
There are currently 26 million Americans with diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-third of Americans may have diabetes by 2050.
Sources: http://www.thirdage.com
