Bayer Unveils DIDGET(TM), the First and Only Blood Glucose Meter That Connects With the Nintendo DS(TM) or DS(TM) Lite
NEWBURY, England/PRNewswire/ --- New DIDGET Meter Transforms Kids Diabetes Experience by Tapping Into
Their Passion for Video Games to Build Consistent Blood Glucose Testing
Habits
Bayer Diabetes Care in the UK and Ireland today unveils "DIDGET(TM), the
first and only blood glucose meter for kids with diabetes that connects
directly to Nintendo DS(TM) and Nintendo DS(TM) Lite gaming systems. The
DIDGET meter is designed to help kids manage this lifelong condition by
rewarding them for building consistent blood glucose testing habits and
meeting personalised glucose target ranges.
"One of the biggest challenges facing parents of children with diabetes
is the constant struggle to instil the habit of regular blood glucose testing
that is critical for consistent diabetes management," says John Gregory,
Professor in Paediatric Endocrinology, Wales School of Medicine, Cardiff
University. "Bayer's DIDGET meter can help ease the parent/child tension that
testing often creates by adding an element of fun and rewards to the routine.
Because it is designed with children in mind, Bayer's DIDGET meter can
transform a child's blood glucose testing experience from something they have
to do into something they want to do."
Building on 40 years of experience, the company is now transforming how
kids engage in their diabetes management by tapping into their existing
passion for handheld gaming. Bayer's DIDGET meter positively reinforces
consistent testing habits by awarding points that kids can use to unlock new
game levels and customise their gaming experience.
"The DIDGET meter is a revolutionary development in healthcare
management. Up until now, blood glucose monitors have been created with
adults in mind," says Sandra Peterson, Head of Bayer Medical Care. "This
product was inspired by a parent of a child with diabetes, to directly
address the challenges facing kids with diabetes and their parents. Bayer's
DIDGET meter offers play with purpose to encourage kids to regularly monitor
their blood glucose and begin to view regular testing as fun."
The DIDGET meter, intended for use by kids aged 5-14, will also connect
to Bayer's DIDGET World (http://www.bayerdidget.co.uk), a new
password-protected web community where kids can spend points that they earn
from consistent monitoring practices and create their own page. Bayer's
DIDGET World is currently in development and will be available soon.
Bayer's DIDGET meter grows with a child's ability to manage his/her
diabetes, offering two testing levels, Basic and Advanced. Self monitoring
blood glucose is an essential tool in the optimal management of childhood and
adolescent diabetes. Self monitoring blood glucose should be prescribed at a
frequency to optimise each child's diabetes control because frequency of self
monitoring blood glucose correlates with glycaemic control(1). Bayer's DIDGET
meter is based on Bayer's trusted CONTOUR(R) system and uses the same
technology and test strips, providing the same easy accuracy, No Coding(TM)
technology, automatic correction for haematocrit and common interfering
substances including maltose, 5 second test time, a small (0.6 microL) sample
size and automatic detection of control solution.
Bayer's DIDGET meter comes with Knock 'Em Downs(TM): World's Fair which
includes a full length adventure game and mini game arcade. Bayer's DIDGET
will be available soon. Visit http://www.bayerdidget.co.ukto find out more
and register to be notified when Bayer's DIDGET meter is available. Nintendo
DS and DS Lite gaming systems are sold separately.
Bayer Diabetes Care UK is working in partnership with the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in the UK and GBP5 from the sale of every
meter will be donated to the JDRF.
Diabetes in the UK
An estimated 25,000 children under the age of 18 in the UK have
diabetes(2). Type 1 diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes, is usually
diagnosed in children and young adults. In persons with type 1 diabetes, the
body makes little or no insulin, and therefore people with type 1 diabetes
need to take insulin for the rest of their lives (3). Type 2 diabetes is
usually diagnosed in adults, although increasingly, children are being
diagnosed with this condition. Type 2 is associated with obesity, family
history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose
metabolism, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity. In people with type 2
diabetes, the body doesn't make enough insulin, or the body is unable to
utilise the insulin effectively. There are many therapies available,
including insulin, for people with type 2 diabetes(4). All people with type 1
and type 2 diabetes must carefully balance food, medications, and activity
level to keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible in order to
avoid long term complications of diabetes (5).
About Bayer HealthCare Diabetes Care
Bayer HealthCare, Diabetes Care supports customers in 100 countries and
stands in a long tradition of leading the way in diabetes care product
innovation since the introduction of CLINITEST reagent tablets in 1941. The
face of diabetes care was changed in 1969 when the first portable blood
glucose meter and test strips were introduced. Bayer HealthCare further
innovated diabetes management by being the first company to introduce a suite
of blood glucose monitors with No Coding(TM) technology. The BREEZE(R) 2 and
CONTOUR(R) blood glucose monitoring systems offer people with diabetes an
unparalleled choice in diabetes management systems. Bayer HealthCare Diabetes
Care global headquarters is located in Tarrytown, New York, in the United
States and operates as part of Bayer HealthCare LLC, a member of the
worldwide Bayer HealthCare group. The Headquarters for the region Europe-MERA
is located in Basel as part of Bayer Consumer Care AG, in Basel.
About Bayer HealthCare
The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the
fields of healthcare, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a
subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world's leading, innovative companies
in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen,
Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health,
Bayer Schering Pharma, Consumer Care and Medical Care divisions. Bayer
HealthCare's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve
human and animal health worldwide. Find more information at
http://www.bayerhealthcare.com.
1. Rewers M, Pihoker C, Donaghue K et al. Assessment and monitoring of
glycemic control in children and adolescents with diabetes. Pediatric
Diabetes 2007: 8: 408-418
2. JDRF UK: http://www.jdrf.org.uk/page.asp?section=000100010004
3. NHS: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetes/Pages/Introduction.aspx
4. NHS: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Diabetes-type2/Pages/Introduction.aspx?url=Pages/what-is-it.aspx
5. NHS: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Diabetes-type2/Pages/Selfhelp.aspx
(Due to the length of the URL number 4, it may be necessary to copy and
paste this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove
the space if one exists.)
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current
assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to
material differences between the actual future results, financial situation,
development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These
factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available
on the Bayer website at http://www.bayer.com The company assumes no liability
whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to
future events or developments.
Collateral available:
* Case study (mother and son with diabetes, aged 11 years)
* Spokespeople: Bayer; KOL; Diabetes Specialist Nurse; Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation (JDRF) + quote
* B-Roll
* Backgrounders: Bayer 40 year History; Diabetes Fact Sheet; Bayer
Innovations in Diabetes Management Timeline
* Photos of Bayer DIDGET glucose meter.
Media Contacts:
Rachel Owen
Bayer Diabetes Care
+44-1635-563410
+44-7836-509262
rachel.owen.ro@bayer.co.uk
Gisela Lenz
Bayer HealthCare
+49-214-30-58080
gisela.lenz@bayerhealthcare.com
Source: Bayer HealthCare
Media Contacts: Rachel Owen, Bayer Diabetes Care, +44-1635-563410,
+44-7836-509262, rachel.owen.ro@bayer.co.uk. Gisela Lenz, Bayer
HealthCare, +49-214-30-58080, gisela.lenz@bayerhealthcare.com
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