New glucose monitoring device spares Australian diabetics from finger pricking to test blood sugar

To help explain diabetes to children, the manufacturer of the American Doll released in May a $24 (AUD$32) diabetes kit. The kit included a glucose monitor, insulin pump, injection pen needle, glucose tablets, medical brace and lancing device.

In other countries in Europe, the lancing device is unnecessary because they have a new glucose monitoring gadget that makes finger pricking unnecessary. The Abbotts FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring system instead uses a small sensor about the size of a 20-cent coin placed on the upper arm for 14 days.

The sensor scans their body and gets a blood sugar level reading in less than one second without drawing blood – one of the things that diabetics have to endure daily, along with insulin injections for some. Now, diabetic Australians could also be spared from finger pricking with the availability of the device in the country, reports News.com.au.

The sensor is disposable and water-resistant which needs to be replaced every 14 days. The sensor and the reader cost $95 each, available online at the FreeStyle Libre website.

Renza Scibilia, spokeswoman of Diabetes Australia, says, “Finger pricking is painful, inconvenient and intrusive, which is often why people don’t check their levels as often as they ideally should. It’s very different from just wearing a device on your arm and scanning it.”

Stuart Eastwood, Diabetes New South Wales chief executive, who has tried the sensor, shares, “I estimate I saved 140 finger lances over a fortnight … I actually have a lot of scar tissue, calluses on my fingers (from testing over the years),” quotes the Herald Sun.

The strips of a regular glucose monitor costs $16 for a pack of 100 strips. Aussie diabetics are hoping The National Diabetes Services Scheme would cover the device.