• 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

Current Blood Glucose Meters

• 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

• 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). I don't think that it ever came to market, 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/

Updated June 4, 2007:

Added March 31, 2005:

Added May 25, 2006:

• 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:

The Bayer 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/

Updated July 16, 2006:

Updated November 10, 2006:

Updated February 9, 2007:

Added March 31, 2005:

Added May 26, 2006:

Added October 12, 2007:

• 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's Assure II meter.

• 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.

New: March 20, 2006:

Updated November 7, 2006:
• 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/

• 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:

Added October 12, 2007:

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/

• 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/

• 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.

• 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:

Added March 31, 2005:

Added May 17, 2007:

Revised October 14, 2005:

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

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