Glucoboy

[Ellen]

http://www.glucoboy.com/

This appears to be cool. I wonder if the strips will be covered and if the doctors feel it's accurate.? Click on the link above for more details. It's currently available in Australia according to the website.

http://www.glucoboy.com/wmdata/media/shared/spacer.png

What is Glucoboy?
The Glucoboy is the first blood glucose meter that
has been designed specially for kids, adolescents and the young at heart.

By itself, the Glucoboy is an advanced blood glucose meter that is extremely accurate and highly precise using only a 0.6µL sample of blood!
When used with the Nintendo Game Boy® Advance System or the GRiP incentive-based web community, Glucoboy becomes part of an entire network that rewards testing compliance and good health management.
Glucoboy is much more than just a meter, it is an integrated system that assists patients and support networks, helping them work together to provide the highest level of care, compassion and compliance.

Precise and Accurate
The Glucoboy is a highly accurate and precise self-diagnostic device.

10 Second test time
0.6 µL sample size
1.1 to 29.2 mmol/L result range
360 glucose result memory
Automatic shut off
Glucose dehydrogenase biosensorVideo Games
In addition to a stand-alone blood glucose meter, the Glucoboy contains 2 full length video games and a mini-arcade. To access the video games, the Glucoboy must be inserted into the cartridge slot on a Nintendo Game Boy® Advance System, or into the Game Boy® cartridge slot on a Nintendo DS.
Blood glucose test results are converted into Glucose Reward Points (GRPs) that can be used to unlock games, or converted to in game currency. For example, in the included Knock ‘Em Downs game, GRPs can be converted into tokens. In the game, tokens can be spent to purchase items.

[kiwikid]

http://www.glucoboy.com/

Blood glucose test results are converted into Glucose Reward Points (GRPs) that can be used to unlock games, or converted to in game currency. For example, in the included Knock ‘Em Downs game, GRPs can be converted into tokens. In the game, tokens can be spent to purchase items.

This bit worries me - Glucoboy only allows children to accumulate points for testing their blood six times a day and, if their glucose levels fall within the acceptable levels, they can use the points to unlock secret games and new levels on their Game Boy - including a game where they must battle evil clowns across the galaxies.

They would probably spend so much time sitting and playing instead of exercising that would be running high. I don't think kids should be 'rewarded' just for acceptable levels. We don't have any hand held games in the house anyway, nor playstation or xbox or any other, so its not going to make its way here :rolleyes:

[staciebco]

My boys are all gamers. This would be a huge hit. I would consider getting one if it gets approved in the US. I think it's a great idea! He's going to play anyway, at least with this maybe he'll have an incentive to check without being told! :rolleyes:

[deafmack]

I like computer games. I think it would be neat as an adult as well.

[Momof4gr8kids]

I don't like that it does the points by the BG readings. I think if a child knows s/he is high, or low and they know that they wont get tokens then why test? They already feel the consequence of bg that is out of range. I don't think their bg machine should be giving further consequences.

Another issue (and why I don't like the idea of a pump having a video game, or system) is battery life. Not that I don't mind buying batteries, but if they over played and used too much you could end up in trouble pretty easily. I've noticed that when the batteries get low, but not before we see it on the bars, we see pump errors. We've never had a meter last long enough to need new batteries so.... No idea about that one.

[Mama Belle]

I read about this on Friday and I think this is an awful idea. No offense. I do not penalize or reward my daughter for her BG readings, it think it is pretty cruel. As we all know, kids run high BGs for many reasons, many of which you have little control over. Not getting points for a high due to illness or stress or adrenaline is like penalizing them for something they have no control over. Also, I agree that if they feel low or high they will be less likely to test because they don't want to miss out on points. Isn't the point to get them to test no matter what and to not associate any judgment with the result of the test?

My daughter doesn't play her gameboy that often anyway.