Alternate-Site Glucose Monitoring Technology Now Available for People with Diabetes

Abbott Laboratories, MediSense Products recently announced the availability of Sof-Tact, which its company representative states is the first automated alternate-site glucose monitoring system that promises people with diabetes virtually painless, one-step testing. The company said that Sof-Tact was developed to offer an alternative to traditional fingerstick testing.

“Sof-Tact is a breakthrough for people who want to avoid painful fingerstick testing and a very important development in our ongoing commitment to provide meaningful products that allow people with diabetes to better manage their disease,” said Michael J. Collins, an Abbott Labs divisional vice president for MediSense Products, in a recent press release. “We used the invaluable feedback we receive everyday from people with diabetes and their caregivers and designed Sof-Tact to meet their testing needs.”

Sof-Tact provides users relatively painless testing by allowing them to perform glucose-monitoring tests on parts of the body that have fewer nerve endings than the fingertip, such as the forearm and upper arm. According to MediSense, in clinical trials, nearly 9 out of 10 patients rated the device as either “painless” or “much less painful” than tradition fingerstick tests.

MediSense also said that Sof-Tact is the first fully integrated and automated testing device, making daily glucose testing less complicated and more convenient by combining all of the steps required for testing in a single device. To perform the test, users load a test strip and lancet inside the monitor, place Sof-Tact on the forearm or other sites and press the “start” button. The device automatically lances the skin, draws the required blood sample, transfers the sample to the test strip and provides a clinically accurate glucose reading in 20 seconds. More than simply easy to use, the device can also potentially reduce many user-generated errors.

“Good diabetes management begins and ends with blood glucose management. However, one of the most common complaints I receive from diabetes patients is that fingerstick testing is painful and, as a result, many people do not test as often as they should,” said Dr. J. Paul Lock, University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Sof-Tact proposes to address the needs of a variety of patients. For example, patients who dislike the pain and side effects of fingerstick testing as well as patients who rely heavily on their fingers could benefit from the device. The large, backlit display will help elderly patients and those with poor vision, and caregivers of people with diabetes could benefit from the fully integrated and automated aspects of the device.

Accurate blood glucose readings are vital to successfully managing diabetes. Daily monitoring helps patients and doctors manage the disease and adjust treatments accordingly. According to MediSense, the Sof-Tact testing device stores up to 450 results and provides average glucose readings for 7, 14 and 28 days. Data can also be downloaded onto a computer using Precision Link software.

Abbott Laboratories develops new pharmaceuticals and medical devices for the health care industry.

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Source: Newstream, April 2001