Content about Glucose

SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs is sponsoring "Health and Beauty" events this month at dozens of its stores, the regional retail pharmacy chain said.

Events will start Sunday and run for 13 days afterward, and will include blood-glucose testing, glucose-meter exchange and education, cholesterol testing, bone-density screenings, blood-pressure testing and others. In addition, there will be free "mini makeover" demonstrations and hair styling tips by Conair and product samplings ranging from cosmetics to supplements.

NEW YORK — Target has launched new products and a co-pay assistance program for customers with diabetes, the mass merchandise retailer said.

Target announced the release of new blood glucose meters and test strips. The retailer also offers products like alternative site lancets, alcohol prep pads and diabetic nutritional shakes.

The company also announced the launch of a $4 co-pay assistance program, as well as a free private-label blood glucose meter for customers who qualify for the program.

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — Regulators have approved a new blood-glucose monitoring system made by Bayer HealthCare, the company said.

Bayer announced the Food and Drug Administration's approval of Contour Next EZ, which includes a meter and test strip sensors that the company said would improve accuracy.

Bayer said the system is being introduced on a market-by-market basis and will be available in the United States this summer.

BETHESDA, Md. — A provider of mobile health solutions has introduced a free application that synchronizes with a wireless blood-glucose meter.

The MyTelcare Diabetes Pal, now available via the Apple App Store, allows patients and caregivers to use their iPhone, iPod Touch and/or iPad to visualize every glucose reading sent by the Telcare BGM (blood-glucose meter) while tracking medication, nutrition, activities and notes. What's more, the app also enables patients who don’t have the Telcare BGM to manually enter their blood-glucose data and track it over time.

MANNHEIM, Germany — Roche on Wednesday announced it has received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration for its Accu-Chek Nano SmartView blood-glucose monitoring system. The meter is smaller than a standard credit card, employs a large backlit display and does not require any manual coding or code key for enhanced ease of use, the company stated. It also offers improved functions such as customizable test reminders, pre- and postmeal markers and average glucose calculation.

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — According to a report published Wednesday on the site of MobiHealthNews, the Food and Drug Administration has approved an iPhone glucose meter called AgaMatrix Nugget from Sanofi. "Sanofi has long planned to sell the AgaMatrix Nugget (also called the iGBStar) in the United States. It began offering the device in Europe earlier this year," MobiHealthNews reported.

TUSTIN, Calif. — A new meta-analysis released Wednesday of eight clinical trials examining the effect of cinnamon consumption in people with Type 2 diabetes and/or prediabetes concluded cinnamon extract and/or cinnamon helps lower blood-glucose levels. The analysis was published in the Journal of Medicinal Foods.

NEW YORK — A new app for the iPhone allows users to keep track of their blood-sugar levels on a daily basis, according to published reports.

Glooko has launched the logbook app and MeterSync cable, which allow patients to automatically download data from their blood-glucose meters to their iPhones, add notes and send results to their healthcare providers.

The cable costs $40 and works with popular glucose meters made by Bayer, FreeStyle and OneTouch.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Select Walgreens across the country will offer free blood-glucose testing during National Diabetes Month this November, Walgreens announced Monday.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Intensive control of blood-sugar levels beyond standard targets provides no additional protection against cognitive decline in older people with diabetes than standard treatment, according to a national study coordinated by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center that was published online in the The Lancet Neurology.

MILPITAS, Calif. — A diabetes awareness campaign, sponsored by blood-glucose monitoring systems brand OneTouch, has tapped celebrity chef Sam Talbot to help educate and inspire Americans living with diabetes.

OneTouch said Talbot, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 12 years old, will participate in the Life First campaign by working alongside the brand to raise awareness of the importance of regular glucose testing in managing diabetes, as well as sharing strategies for success, particularly healthy eating.