We finally have a replacement wireless meter for the Minimed Paradigm insulin pumps. The new model is the OneTouch UltraLink meter.
It uses existing OneTouch Ultra test strips, with 5 seconds before you have a reading. The meter lets you flag readings as before or after meal so you can get these averages. It stores up to 500 readings and runs on 2 AAA batteries. For more details read the 90-page user's manual (PDF).
The meter is now being shipped with new Medtronic Paradigm insulin pumps. Those of you who already have a Paradigm pump will have to wait a little longer.
... we plan on sending U.S. customers who own a MiniMed Paradigm 512, 712, 515, or 715 insulin pump a OneTouch® UltraLink™ Meter at no charge later this year.
Minimed gives you a way to find out when you'll get your meter.
This meter is only available to US customers. Outside the US, the replacement meter will be from Bayer. Currently there's no word on the release date for the Bayer wireless meter.
If you have, or want to use, the OneTouch diabetes management software you'll need the latest version (2.3.2). You'll also need to download the newest meter driver to your PC so the UltraLink can be recognized.
Yesterday Abbott issued a warning for users of Precision Xtra, Optium, and other blood glucose meters. Apparently if the meters are dropped on a hard surface parts of the display may not work properly. They say the lot number or date information may not display correctly.
But I assume this also means that an 8 might display like a 7 or another number. If only some of the segments are wired properly then you could still think it's working when it's actually displaying false values.
So if you drop your meter, use the display check function to ensure the display is fully connected. On the Precision Xtra the display check is done each time you switch on the meter. It should look like the picture on the left.
If you see any part of the display is missing, then my suggestion is to contact Abbott at the number on the back of your meter.
According to a Medtronic press release, Medtronic and Bayer will work together to distribute a new blood glucose meter for Medtronic patients outside the US. Originally I missed the fact that within the US, Medtronic has made a similar agreement with LifeScan. Thanks Kevin and Amy for pointing this out.
The new meter for those in Canada and Europe will be based on the Bayer Contour and will transmit results to Minimed insulin pumps and the Guardian REAL-time CGMS.
The new US meter will be based on the OneTouch platform. I wonder whether they'll use a version of the more stylish OneTouch UltraMini, the Ultra2 or something completely new because of the need to include the circuitry for wireless transmission.
And once again, I hope that one or more of these three companies (Medtronic, Bayer, or LifeScan) will finally decide to work towards a standard format for representing diabetes data.
Since Amy posted her review of this meter, I thought you might be interested in seeing it in action.
So here's a short video of the meter being used to take a reading.
More about this meter next week.
Update: The meter is made by a New England company called AgaMatrix. I don't know how many insurance companies are covering it. I really like the styling overall.
What might this mean? Well here's the problem for those of us with diabetes.
How many diabetes data devices do you use? Glucose meters? Continuous glucose meters? Insulin pumps? Each of these typically collects some amount of data related to your diabetes treatment.
Have any of you got an easy way to collect this data into a single piece of software to that you can do some analysis on it?
Now imagine a future where all of the various pieces of software that come with your devices each exports the data in a common format. What might that mean?
If that format was shared and freely useable by anyone, then it allows different people to create software to collect the data and make logbooks out of it, or analyze it in different ways.
To get device makers to think about this, I've sent e-mails to various companies that are currently working on new blood glucose monitoring devices. Companies like Biosign Technologies who are developing a new wrist-worn monitor; and Nilimed who is working on a new continuous glucose monitor. I'm also trying to interest the Artificial Pancreas project in supporting standard data formats as part of that effort.
Would you like to get involved? If you've got any experience with programming, especially how to use XML and process XML, then you may be able to help.
Leave a comment, or send me an e-mail (mail address on the wiki), and I'll drop you a note.
Here's something that I just don't get -- and you can certainly call me naive.
<soapbox>
I test my blood sugar readings about 6-8 times each and every day. So over the course of a year I use between 2,200 and 2,900 test strips. At about $0.40 each (I'm being generous here), that means my meter maker is seeing sales of $880 to $1,160 each and every year. Over the last five years they've basically made over $5,000 just from me.
So why is it that they want to charge me $35 for a proprietary cable so that I can get the data out of the meter which might help me better manage my diabetes?
I've used blood equity, time, and money to collect that data. It belongs to me. Why can't I just get it?
I think I've finally realized that device makers don't understand the two ways I use their meters.
Clearly I use meter(s) to tell us what our blood glucose levels are at a given point in time. So I test before I drive, before exercising, before meals. That way I can tell: whether it's safe to drive; have I a good reading before I start my sumo wrestling match; or is it okay for me to eat right now.
But I don't think they understand how important it is for me to have the values for the last month, or the last six months, so I can understand how we're doing on a long-term basis.
Now makers may think that log books would be enough for that kind of tracking. But can a log book automatically draw graphs for me? Can I easily review a months worth of data by flicking through my checkbook-like logbook?
The way I see it these manufacturers are requiring us to spend our own money (because insurance doesn't cover it) to buy a data cable. By holding our data hostage what they're saying is that getting ready access to my data is less important to them than the revenue they receive from their cables.
Diabetes: technology, devices, software, and other stuff.
About Me
Name: Bernard Farrell
Location: Massachusetts, United States
I was born in Ireland and now live in the US.
I have had Type 1 diabetes for over 35 years. I struggle with my blood sugar, the same as most people with diabetes.
I wear a Cozmo 1800 insulin pump and a Dexcom SEVEN CGM to track my blood glucose levels. I also take Symlin to help control my post-meal blood sugars.
I'm blessed by God, and every day brings the possibility of a cure.
It uses existing OneTouch Ultra test strips, with 5 seconds before you have a reading. The meter lets you flag readings as before or after meal so you can get these averages. It stores up to 500 readings and runs on 2 AAA batteries. For more details read the 90-page user's manual (PDF).
