Bayer Diabetes Care introduces blood-glucose monitor intended for kids

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. Bayer Diabetes Care has introduced a new blood glucose-monitoring system for children.

Didget, which connects directly to Nintendo DS and DS Lite gaming systems, can help kids manage this lifelong disease by rewarding them for building consistent testing habits and meeting personalized blood glucose target ranges, Bayer said. The meter is intended for use by children ages 4 through 14 years and is based on Bayer's Contour system, the first blood-glucose monitor in the United States that connects directly to a PC or MAC -- providing users with instant access to information and trends about their blood sugar levels.

“As the first meter truly designed with kids in mind, the DIDGET meter can transform a child’s blood sugar testing experience from something they have to do into something they want to do,” said Larry Deeb, pediatric endocrinologist and medical director for the Diabetes Center at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital in Florida and a paid consultant for Bayer. “Regular blood sugar testing is critical for diabetes management and one of the biggest challenges facing parents of kids with diabetes is motivating their kids to develop good testing habits. Bayer’s DIDGET meter adds an element of fun and rewards to the routine of testing and, by doing so, helps ease that parent/child tension that testing often creates,” he added.

The meter is available through CVS.com, Drugstore.com and Walgreens.com at a suggested retail value of $74.99.