Incentives for children in testing blood sugar

Fri, 04 Jun 2010
With the monitoring of blood glucose levels being crucial to managing diabetes, it is often difficult to get kids with the metabolic condition to cooperate in testing. However, a new approach is being tried, where parents are being recommended to offer incentives such iTunes downloads to their children to ensure they take part.

Fran Cogen, director of the Child/Adolescent Diabetes Program at the Children's National Medical Center in the US, said "Kids are often resistant to testing because it takes them away from other activities, sets them apart from kids who don't have diabetes. And skin pricking can be a nuisance."

In a new move, the Food and Drug Administration has also recently approved a blood sugar meter that connects with the Nintendo DS and DS Lite gaming systems. The Didget, produced by Bayer HealthCare, allows children who test their blood sugar as prescribed by their doctor to gain access to higher levels in some games. They can also enter into a "diabetes world" where they can chat to other gamers with the condition.

The blood sugar meter is similar to others on the market, and costs about the same. To use it, the child has to prick a finger and transfer a drop of blood to a treated test strip. Once the strip is inserted in the meter, it provides a blood glucose level, which allows insulin dosages to be adjusted if necessary.

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