What's On The Horizon with Diabetes... ?

The Consumer Guide lists products that were on the market as of Oct. 1, 2010. Other products were on the cusp of being released when this issue went to press or are expected in the not-too-distant future.

Jewel
One of the most anticipated new products of the year is Debiotech’s tubeless Jewel “patch” pump. The Jewel is just under half an inch thick yet its reservoir holds 450 units of insulin. Not only that, but you can deliver a bolus via the patch pump itself. The base of the pump (which holds the reservoir) is disposed of after six days while the hard outer casing is reusable. But what most sets this pump apart is its lack of a handheld remote. Instead, the Jewel works with any smart phone that runs on an Android operating system. Phone functions—receiving calls, text messages, and e-mails—are suspended when your phone is in pump mode, so you can adjust your dose, deliver a bolus, or fine-tune system settings without interruptions. Swiss manufacturer Debiotech says the system is awaiting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and may be released at the end of 2011.

t:slim
Insulin pump users looking for a thin, sleek device may be pleased with Tandem’s t:slim pump. The pump, which is 25 percent slimmer than current versions on the market, features a high-contrast, color touch screen. Despite its thinner profile, the t:slim will hold 300 units of insulin. It does not have FDA approval yet.

Paradigm Veo
Like the MiniMed Paradigm Real-Time Revel, also from Medtronic, the Veo is an insulin pump and CGM all in one. Unlike the Revel, though, the Veo automatically suspends insulin delivery when glucose drops too low. The system is currently undergoing additional clinical trials, and while it’s on the market in Europe, Canada, and the Middle East, the Veo has yet to be approved by the FDA for use stateside.

iBGStar
Sanofi-Aventis and AgaMatrix have teamed up to create a USB-sized meter that turns an iPhone or iPod Touch into a blood glucose meter. Use the small device alone in a pinch (its face displays the reading), or plug it into an iPhone or iPod to check blood glucose levels, make notes, chart trends, and analyze results using the Diabetes Manager app. The iBGStar was pending submission to the FDA at press time.

WaveSense Direct Connect Cable
This cable is designed to connect AgaMatrix’s Jazz meter with an iPhone or iPod Touch so results are transmitted automatically. From there, users can graph glucose levels, track trends, and annotate readings with the WaveSense app. The Direct Connect Cable is pending FDA approval and is not yet for sale.

Jazz Wireless
AgaMatrix’s Jazz Wireless meter allows for wireless transfer of data from meter to computer using Bluetooth technology. While the Jazz Wireless is FDA approved, it’s not yet available to consumers.

Fora Care D30, D40, POCT, and G31
Fora Care is prepping to release two blood glucose monitors (the G31 and POCT) and two combined blood glucose/blood pressure monitors (the D30 and D40). Most notable are the G31 and D40. Both let users wirelessly transmit data to a computer.

Afrezza
A few years ago, Pfizer abandoned its inhaled insulin, Exubera, due to poor sales. But MannKind Corp. hopes the market is ready for another inhalable insulin. Afrezza is an ultra rapid–acting mealtime insulin powder that’s delivered via a compact inhaler. The company’s data show that Afrezza lowers blood glucose levels as effectively as traditional injected insulin. The medication has been submitted to the FDA and is awaiting approval.