FDA Approves Watchlike Device for Diabetes
March 22, 2001 (Washington) -- Diabetics moved one step closer to eventually eliminating the need for daily fingerpricks, an inconvenient and sometimes painful procedure that all diabetics presently must perform as often as four to seven times a day.
The FDA approved Thursday the GlucoWatch Biographer for people aged 18 and older. The high-tech device measures blood sugar, or glucose, levels by extracting a fluid sample through the skin.
The FDA emphasized, however, that the device should not replace daily fingerpricks.
The GlucoWatch consists of two parts: a biographer that is worn like watch, and a disposable sensor that sticks to the skin. The sensor collects a fluid sample through the wrist using a low-level electrical current to pull the glucose through the skin, and the biographer then calculates, displays, and stores the readings for later analysis.
Glucose levels can be measured every 20 minutes for 12-hour periods -- even during sleep. The result is an "electronic diary" with up to 4,000 values that can be reviewed at the touch of a button, helping provide a more comprehensive picture of a patient's daily glucose levels.
"It is an important direction in diabetes care," Christopher Saudek, MD, president-elect of the American Diabetes Association, tells WebMD. "Continuous glucose monitoring is an important development for improving care."
However, he points out, there are other devices that can perform the same function and the fact that the device was less effective at detecting the lows may represent a slight problem.
"I think the main danger clinically is the lows, but adjusting therapies for highs is also significant," Saudek says.
Many diabetics perform just a few fingerpricks a day to monitor glucose -- possibly missing important levels at times, such as right after a meal. This diary is expected to improve diabetics' quality of life while also reducing their healthcare costs, according to Cygnus Inc. of Redwood Calif., the maker of GlucoWatch.
"With GlucoWatch Biographer, people with diabetes will have access to the type of information that may help them make better informed decisions about diet, medication, and physical activities," the company said in a prepared statement. "This may eventually lead to a better quality of life and lower healthcare costs."