New Lightweight Glucose Meter for Self-Testing

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 01 Feb 2011
A miniaturized glucose meter provides accurate results in just five seconds, locked to a single code and eliminating the need for manual calibration coding.

The OneTouch UltraMini Meter with SmartCode25 works with the proprietary test strips with DoubleSure technology, which automatically checks each sample twice to confirm the result. The test strips used, OneTouch Ultra Blue, are manufactured to a single calibration code, Code25. Since the device is locked to that same code at manufacturing, there is no need to recode the meter manually. The OneTouch UltraMini Meter is a product of Lifescan (Milpitas, CA, USA), a Johnson & Johnson (New Brunswick, NJ, USA) company, and features a large, easy-to-read screen, a scrollable menu, and simple 3-step testing.

Image: The OneTouch UltraMini Meter (photo courtesy Lifescan).

"While blood glucose readings are essential for patients on insulin to provide critical information for accurate dose adjustment, patients on oral medications may still benefit enormously from identifying the impact food, exercise, and stress can have on their blood glucose levels,” said Andrew Farquhar, MD, a consultant to LifeScan. "The new OneTouch UltraMini Meter with SmartCode25 keeps the meter calibrated for accuracy while removing the need for manual coding so patients can still feel confident in their results.”

Disposable plastic test strips are usually impregnated with glucose oxidase and other components. However, since the strips may vary from batch to batch, some models require the user to enter manually a code found on the vial of test strips or on a chip that comes with the test strip. By entering the coding into the glucose meter, the meter will then be calibrated to that batch of test strips. If this process is incorrect, the meter reading can be inaccurate, with serious implications for patients actively managing their diabetes, and may place them at increased risk of hypoglycemia.

Related Links:
Lifescan
Johnson & Johnson


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