iPhone Glucose Meter to Debut in the U.S.

From Yahoo Health. And what if the power goers out and you can't recharge your iPhone? At least regular glucose meters have batteries you can replace!

"Announced Wednesday, the US Food and Drug Administration gave the nod of approval to what will be the first iPhone glucose meter available in the US, the AgaMatrix Nugget, also known as the iGBStar.

Already commercially available in Germany, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Italy, the AgaMatrix plug-in is a blood glucose meter that connects to an iPhone or iPod Touch, allowing users to view and analyze their blood glucose levels in real time. By utilizing its free accompanying app, users can share their information with their healthcare professionals when on the go while keeping track of their insulin doses and other crucial data.

Agamatrix already offers an app for iPhone users that helps track carb intake and insulin dose for diabetics, but so far in the US the blood glucose meter is not yet available in the App Store. Users in parts of Europe can purchase the glucose meter plug-in for €80.

Also available in Europe is the VitaDock series, which launched this summer and includes a GlucoDock blood glucose measuring device for managing diabetes. The device, priced at €99.99, works on the iPod Touch and iPad. Similar to the AgaMatrix system, the VitaDock app keeps track of all user health data and provides graphs and statistics. Data can also be transferred to your doctor or family members via e-mail."

Knowing how all iPhones and iPads are susceptible to downloaded viruses embedded in the programs, can you really rely on them? What's worse--someone could hack into your device and alter your numbers, or screw with the original program, giving you false readings and possibly kill you by getting you to take too much insulin.

These iDevices are NOT protected from hackers--there is no anti-virus program for them. Worse, someone who has no authorization to your data (like the feds) cam hack into your phone and take it or alter it too.

Remember--these devices have built-in tracking programs, so even marketers can get your information, provided these apps "talk" to one another.

What if your phone/tablet gets stolen or fails to work one day? Now, not only is your life in your hands, but your life is in the device's (and the ghost of Steve Job's) hands.

This app would be great for first responders, especially in rural areas and Third World countries, or in emergency situations, for a one-time use only, not for daily reliance.