 |
| iHealth Align device--Courtesy of iHealth |
Cell phones are indispensable for many. Now a plug-in meter that's about the size of a quarter makes it easier to track blood sugar on a mobile device. The newly launched iHealth Align is the world's smallest FDA-approved blood glucose monitor, according to its maker, iHealth.
The device works in a manner similar to larger versions. Blood is placed on a testing strip that is inserted into the tiny, quarter-sized plug-in that fits directly into a smartphone. It then works with the iHealth Gluco-Smart app to allow the user to display and store readings.
The company already markets a small blood glucose monitor that connects wirelessly with mobile devices. But this new monitor takes that idea one step further.
At $16.95, the iHealth Align is relatively affordable. The company also reduced the price for its proprietary test strips, which are now sold for $12.50 for 50 strips. That's about one-quarter the list price of most name-brand test strips, according to the company. That puts the cost of the strips at or below the typical individual copay contribution, making it affordable enough to buy without going through insurance reimbursement, iHealth said.
The company expects to add an option in the near future to automate test-strip replenishment through the mobile app by tracking their usage. Diabetics typically test their blood sugar at least one to three times a day, according to the Mayo Clinic.
iHealth also plans to integrate with Apple's newly disclosed mobile health and fitness platform, HealthKit, the company told VentureBeat.
- here is the press release on the iHealth Align launch
- and here is the VentureBeat story
- and the MedGadget story