Gadget allows you to test your blood sugar levels with your iPhone

IT'S the new frontier of medical technology.

The new iPhone app allows a user to prick their finger and test their blood. Picture: Stephen Cooper

A snazzy gadget that hooks up to the iPhone to read diabetics' blood glucose levels.

Pharmaceutical giant Sanofi will today release the iBGStar to be sold in pharmacists across the country for $99.

The technology plugs into the base of the iPhone or iPod Touch. Users prick their finger with a lancet and then press the blood sample to the meter.

The blood glucose result will appear on the mobile screen within six seconds and can be emailed to relatives or medicos instantly.

NSW mother Annemarie Branson trialed the technology with her children Tim, 15 and Isabella, 12 _ both suffer from Type 1 diabetes.

Ms Branson said she receives email updates from her children with their latest blood glucose level.
Full Digital Access - $5 for first 28 days
Diabetes test on iPhone

The new iPhone app allows a user to prick their finger and test their blood.

"It's reassuring for me the kids can take a screenshot of their results, which includes details of their recent activity and how they are feeling and send it to me," Ms Branson said.

Australian Medical Association president Dr Steve Hambleton said he was "really excited" by emerging medical gadgets.

"I think it is great innovation and there is all sorts of opportunities. Anything that can help diabetics improve their management is fantastic," he said.

"We have to start utilising this incredibly powerful computer we carry in our pockets."

But, he said, it is important regulations keep up with innovation.

"We need to start getting an approval process up that says this is a quality product that is reliable. I think the developments are going faster than the regulations at the moment. There will have to be some way of accrediting these things to make sure we all have confidence they will give us accurate information."

Annemarie Branson with her two diabetic children Isabella-Rose, 12 and Tim, 15 using new I Phone App to test their blood glucose levels. Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: News Limited

Sydney GP Dr Brian Morton said he was concerned about the accuracy of these new technologies.

"This sort of technology makes it easier for diabetics to manage their blood sugar level, so on the whole is a good thing," he said.

"But, we always need to be careful of the accuracy of it. I think people who get it will need to correlate their results with accepted testing, like their home monitors."