[gettingby]

This was posted at time.com
NAVIGATOR
For the millions of diabetics who test their blood by pricking their finger up to eight times a day, Abbott researchers have come up with a less painful alternative— a patch called the Navigator, which is embedded with a wireless transmitter that can read glucose levels once a minute and works for three days at a time before needing to be changed. The continuous sugar-level readings are sent to a small receiver kept in a pocket or purse, and originate from the patch's hairlike filament that penetrates ever so slightly beneath the skin. But it doesn't probe deep enough to draw blood. Instead it measures glucose levels in the body's interstitial fluid. These readings often lag behind actual blood-sugar levels by about 15 minutes, but experts say that's still plenty of time to spot a problem. Navigator's repeated readings let patients know when their glucose levels are trending dangerously high or low—or holding steady. And that's particularly liberating for Type 1 diabetics, who cannot make enough insulin to harness their sugar levels and therefore need to maintain strict control over their blood sugar. It's also helpful for Type 2 diabetics, whose bodies cannot process the insulin they have, so they must plan how much to eat or exercise (both of which change sugar levels) based on their current glucose levels.

[gettingby]

This one is interesting too.



TOM HUSSEY / GETTY IMAGES




Get Well in '05!


Meet the most promising drugs headed for the market next year

By ALICE PARK






EXUBERA
For 80 years, the best option for diabetics to make up for the body's inability to keep sugar in check has been to inject insulin. But by 2005, some diabetics may be able to breathe their way to better control of their disease. Exubera, already being considered for sale in Europe, would, if approved, become the first inhaled insulin for diabetics in the U.S. and would be a welcome option for Type 2 patients who may need insulin boosts before meals. One issue that the FDA will be watching carefully is how the insulin powder affects the lungs and whether it causes breathing problems, tumor growth or fibrosis. So far, studies show that after a few years of treatment patients exhibited slightly decreased lung function on certain breathing tests, although they did not report any shortness of breath.

[HeatherP]

I really like the idea of the b/s reading patch! Where do I sign up?

The inhalable insulin thing I'm not too eager about. I think I'd like to wait to see some long-term studies on the effects on the lungs.

Thanks for the info Cin!
HeatherP

[David76]

Yeah, I can't wait for the reading patch. It sounds better than a watch b/c you don't have to take it off with exercise or sleeping. Anyone know how far from the receiver you can be while still having it collect your readings?

[lgvincent]

I'd love to be able to give it a try! I'd probably end up electocuting myself with it. Since I'm not to bright, if I came upon water, the first thing I'd do is think "Hey!! Wonder how deep this water is?!?" Walk on in, ZZZZZZZZZAAAAAAAAPPPPP "That hurt!?!" Then slowly sink to the bottom.

[gettingby]

LMAO Lowell. This is me . Told you you can make me smile.
Cin

[Jenny]

That sounds cool! I hope it works and isn't too expensive.

[rzrbks]

Here's the link to information about the system,

sorry lg, no electrocution available, --maybe you can hire out as a bug zapper tho


http://www.therasense.com/corporate/...itor.html#cost