Real-time glucose monitoring system approved in U.S., Europe

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The iGlucose Blood Glucose Monitoring System offers automatic transmission of diabetes information to a cloud-based personalized web portal, while facilitating simple, real-time mobile communication between the person with diabetes and the family members, friends and healthcare professionals who are part of his or her designated Circle of Care. (PRNewsfoto/Smart Meter, LLC)

 

Smart Meter LLC has announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from FDA and CE Mark in Europe to market the company’s iGlucose Blood Glucose Monitoring System. Aimed at improving health outcomes for people with diabetes, the iGlucose System is the first subscription-free glucose meter and diabetes health management system to offer automatic transmission of diabetes information to a cloud-based personalized web portal, while also facilitating real-time mobile communication between the patient and those individuals in his or her designated Circle of Care.

The iGlucose System uses digital mobile phone technology known as Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) to facilitate two-way communication between an individual’s iGlucose Meter and the iGlucose Web Portal. GSM connectivity allows the iGlucose Blood Glucose Meter to communicate automatically with the cloud, and enables the iGlucose Web Portal, which empowers a user’s Circle of Care (healthcare providers, friends and family) to support the patient’s diabetes management efforts. Also, the iGlucose System provides actionable data to healthcare professionals and payers to enable digital triage improving population health management.

“While more than 400 million people have diabetes globally, managing it can be a lonely and frustrating journey for them if their healthcare professionals and loved ones aren’t adequately involved in day-to-day care,” says Cliff McIntosh, CEO of Smart Meter. “Being digitally connected with their Circle of Care has proven to turn the tide for many people with diabetes. The web-connected glucose meters available today have shown limited results because they’re so complicated to use. We’re excited about our regulatory approvals because the iGlucose System’s ease of use makes it possible for family, friends, and healthcare professionals to be truly engaged and support the person with diabetes in their daily diabetes management.”

Setting it apart from other web-connected glucose meters, the iGlucose Meter comes ready, out-of-the-box, for communicating via the cloud. After a simple registration on the web portal using the meter’s serial number and the user’s diabetes information, the meter and web portals are set for continuous two-way interaction, with no additional steps required. Communication to and from the web portal happens automatically with no cables to connect, no Bluetooth to sync, no wi-fi requirement, no uploads to remember, and no telecommunication specs to program. The patient only needs to check his or her blood glucose. The meter and web portal handle the rest, communicating automatically in real time by way of a global Internet of Things (IoT) network. The iGlucose System’s two-way communication is possible in more than 200 countries without any additional cost to patients and without the need for country-by-country IT integration or a specific brand of phone or mobile carrier.

While tracking a patient’s glucose results and diabetes information is one important function of the iGlucose Web Portal, the system also proactively initiates and manages multiple two-way communications between itself, the patient, and the patient’s desired Circle of Care designated during registration. The portal integrates the patient’s diabetes data in easy-to-read charts, graphs and an e-diary to display at-a-glance trends. It also sends personalized diabetes tips, coaching suggestions, and reminders via system-generated texts and emails from the iGlucose Coach, while also providing real-time alerts to the Circle of Care, informing members of glucose readings and other important information. Thus a pharmacy can remind the patient to refill test strips, or a nurse or loved one can text encouraging notes or reminders that can help keep a patient’s diabetes management efforts on track.

Additionally, with its web-based software powered by automated real-time data collection, the iGlucose System’s cloud-based portal makes actionable health data available to healthcare professionals and payers. For instance, the software can identify “hot spots” in a physician’s diabetes population to enable digital triage. This, Smart Meter executives say, will free the physician to focus on the right patients at the right times based on whatever might be revealed in their diabetes data, such as low or out-of-control glucose levels. For payers, the data collection capabilities of the web portal provide a cost-effective solution for accessing validated data on test strip usage, replenishment, and compliance, which helps improve health outcomes.

The iGlucose Blood Glucose Monitoring System uses just 0.75 µl of blood, features a five-second test time plus flagging of before- and after-meal results, and meets ISO 2013 standards in providing accurate blood glucose readings. In addition, the price of test strips and the meter will be equal to or less than the copays of leading brands. Initial markets where the iGlucose System will be sold include the United States and the United Kingdom, with product expected to be commercially available in both markets sometime in 2017.