Looks like Hong Kong is coming out with a great new way of testing blood sugars. No needles. Here is a link to the article on CNN.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/condi...eut/index.html

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Christopher Berry
Diabetic Discussion

There have been news items about needle free meters for as long as there have been BG meters available for home use. And all these articles still mean nothing because we don't have one meter available to buy.

This link didn't work, but the meter I read about last said that instead using a needle, a laser is used to get a sample of blood.

What they didn't say is if the laser hurts. The skin still has to be broken so I don't know if this is much better. Unless you're only afraid of needles and not using them makes you happier, I don't see the difference.

I keep hoping that one day they can read your saliva to see what your BG is -- or just hold the meter to your arm to get a reading. If they can get a meter that does that and is accurate, I won't even care if it's as big as a shoe box.

So I went hunting up some old issues about teh lazer lancet device....... the lowdown on that is that for some who are squeemisha bout needles it does work. IT make a little hole. It also costs about 400 dollars.

The continuous monitor, like gluco watch has some side effects.. fungal deposits where teh watch sits continually. seems to gather moisture, sugars and environment for fungal spores ot land and happily grow. so it makes the back of the watch smell like a tennis shoe....... eewwww

the continous pump monitor has come along way. It works with a continued signla through teh infusion prt, so it does small samples all the time. BUt its only available and preferred for people with Brittle.......

Saliva there is a test that is useful in determining spill over glucose. Not widly used in active world. its has been shown to be useful for certain individuals who may be: out of control, in a less responsive manner. here is the link to read more about it
Science Links Japan | Portable Noninvasive Blood Glucose Measuring System Using Saliva and Its Evaluation.