Bayer gets ‘Didget’-al with kids

NEWBURY, England —It’s not yet available in the United States, but Bayer Diabetes Care earlier this summer launched Didget, a blood glucose meter designed for kids with diabetes that directly connects to Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite gaming systems, for its consumers in England and Ireland.

“The Didget meter is a revolutionary development in healthcare management,” stated Sandra Peterson, head of Bayer Medical Care, at the time of the Didget launch. “Up until now, blood glucose monitors have been created with adults in mind.… This product was inspired by a parent of a child with diabetes, to directly address the challenges facing kids with diabetes, and their parents.”

The Didget meter, intended for use by kids between the ages of 5 and 14 years, also will connect to Bayer’s Didget World, www.bayerdidget.co.uk, a new password-protected Web community where kids can spend points that they earn from consistent monitoring practices, as well as create their own page. With that page, they can interact with other children with diabetes and participate in online games.

Children can earn reward points for blood glucose test results within their personalized target range, the number of tests per day and the minimum time between tests. Plus, they can earn bonus points for consistently testing at least three times per day, every day for at least one week and up to 90 days. Children can use these points to purchase items in the games, unlock minigames and customize their experience on Bayer’s Didget World.