HEALTH

MINNEAPOLIS — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a professional glucose monitoring system made by Medtronic, the company said.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — A new tool developed by researchers at the University of Missouri improved both the efficiency and accuracy of acquiring data needed for high-quality diabetes care, according to a new study.

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Hamacher Resource Group will be participating in The Drug Store News Group's Diabetes Leadership Forum, part of the Industry Issues conference, to be held Nov. 29 at the New York Athletic Club. HRG VP Dave Wendland will moderate the discussion for the eighth year in a row. The panel will include six of the leading health and beauty retailers in the country.

BOSTON — Factor Nutrition Labs on Monday presented a study supporting supplementation with its FocusFactor product to improve brain function before the Gerontological Society of America.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo on Monday named Christopher Roop to the post of VP corporate development. In this role, Roop will be responsible for identifying, evaluating and pursuing acquisition targets that complement the company’s strategic growth objectives.

PHILADELPHIA — A hand and respiratory hygiene program including frequent use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer helped reduce illness caused by influenza A, and reduced the number of missed school days in elementary school children, according to a study in the November issue of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Monday announced that Rend Al-Mondhiry has joined CRN’s staff to serve as the trade association’s regulatory counsel.

“This is a new position for our association and [Al-Mondhiry's] skill set and experience provide a perfect match for what we need," CRN president and CEO Steve Mister said. "Her knowledge of food and drug law will make her a tremendous asset for our staff and for our members."

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Almost one-third of Americans who have not had enough money to pay for health care and/or medicine in the past 12 months are smokers, according to the October 2011 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. The percentage of smokers is cut in half (14.2%) when it comes to the population that can afford to pay for health care and/or medicine in the past 12 months. Of the Americans without a personal doctor, 27.5% smoke.