A new blood glucose monitor themed around the popular Angry Birds™ video game has been released in the UK, with the aim of improving the experience of blood glucose testing, and therefore compliance, in children with type 1 diabetes.
The device has a simple touchscreen interface and features the Angry Birds characters, who either explode, smile or look worried when the device receives the child’s blood glucose result. It also sets alarm reminders to test at the appropriate times. Points and rewards are given for good readings, allowing children to progress up each level of the game. The aim of the device’s creators, Finnish health technology company Modz, was to motivate children to test more frequently and at appropriate times, as well as achieve good blood glucose levels, and to eliminate some of the stigma from peers that comes with having to test regularly.
The device also offers simple summaries of test results, carbohydrate counts, insulin doses and exercise, and can be set to email or text results to parents and healthcare teams.
The device is available at the Modz website. Starter kits currently cost €349, and there are plans to make it available on the NHS in the future.
More information can be found here.
