I’m very fortunate — and geekishly thrilled! — to be the first U.S. diabetic to review the new iBGStar, glucose meter and logging app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Yup, it’s that meter that plugs right into an iPhone! And nope, it’s not FDA approved or available on the market in America yet.
I happen to have a longstanding relationship with the folks at AgaMatrix, the innovative company that designed iBGStar for Sanofi-Aventis. The AgaMatrix guys have followed my push for iPhone-ish diabetes devices from day one. And now that they’ve actually created the first-ever medical device that actually physically plugs into Apple’s platform, they’ve been kind enough to get me a test unit to play with.
First impressions: it’s simply amazing that this tiny little stick, about 3 inches long and 3/4-inch wide, can test your sugar either on its own, or plugged into your phone, in which case the results are automatically logged in the app, of course. If you use it disconnected from the phone, then the data is simply loaded in next time you do connect.
What a strange feeling — it’s like not having a glucose meter at all, since for once, you don’t have to schlep around a separate device that’s essentially the same size as your phone. And the app, similar to AgaMatrix’s current Diabetes Manager logging app for the iPhone, is just as slick and pretty and easy-click as any iPhone app could be. Only the iBGStar app is even more fun, with extras like a choice of wallpaper backgrounds to choose from: Beach, Mountain, Desert, Cityscape or Farm — whatever makes you happy when it’s time do the ‘ol finger prick trick.
So far I like:
- the bright, bold app with easy-scroll menus for entering notes on your BG readings (meal tags, carb grams, insulin doses)
- the no-coding test strips
- Carrying only a mini-case, about half the size of my OmniPod case, that houses the lancet, test strip vial, and a pocket for the iBGStar meter when it’s not plugged into your iPhone. (I liked leaving mine plugged in, just for the thrill of knowing that my phone now has real capability to help me treat my medical condition!)
So far I don’t like:
- the fact that the app doesn’t automatically launch or open when you plug in a test strip or complete a BG test (I assume it doesn’t automatically launch when you plug the meter into the phone because it would be annoying if it always overrode whatever else you were doing on your phone. But in that moment when you’re testing glucose, you don’t want to have to swish around searching for the app to open it manually.)
- it doesn’t always beep when you take a test, i.e. no “confidence alert” so you’re often not sure if the blood was properly absorbed or not
I’ve actually been exchanging notes with reader Matt Fishburn, a type 1 expat living in the Netherlands, who got the iBGStar just a week or so ago 
when the product hit that country (second roll-out after Germany). Matt’s originally from Iowa, and is “a relatively new member to club D, having been diagnosed just 10 months ago with type one, 2 days after my 26th birthday.” Yikes! He’s a self-described “technophile” and PhD student in electrical engineering.
“There are still some rough edges, but overall it makes tracking blood glucose, carbs and insulin much easier than with my Bayer Contour,” Matt writes. “The integration of the carb count and insulin amount with the glucose reading has made a big difference how often I track. I am lazy, and really hate copying information to multiple places. For example, if you test a few hours after a light hypo and you are higher than you expected, you can tag the high with ‘After a hypo.’ The phrases can be customized, which has been very useful for me. ‘Stress from PhD research’ seems to be showing up a lot in my readings. The app also makes it really easy to e-mail these numbers to your doctor or nurse, or transfer the numbers to a computer.”
“The meter itself is simple, small and straight-forward to use. However … I do not like the lancer that comes with the meter, as I find it difficult to change the lancets. I also do not like the test strips. The plastic top of a Bayer strip overhangs the bottom just a little bit, making it easy to apply blood, whereas the iBGStar strip lacks the vertical overhang. Even after using the iBGStar strips for a week, it is more difficult for me to apply blood to the strip than to a Bayer strip.”
“During a test my blood doesn’t seem to completely cover the visible window in an iBGStar strip, leaving me nervous about the meter results. A problem I’ve had with my Contour is incorrect readings without meter errors when the blood doesn’t completely fill up the strip’s slot. I haven’t had any issues with the iBGStar in the week or so I’ve been using it, but I’m still paranoid every time I test if the visible window isn’t completely filled.”
As exciting as it is to have this next-generation phone-based meter with a tightly integrated, complex tracking app, newbie Matt hit the nail on the head of patient frustrations, IMHO, when he added:
“You track all this data and the app does… absolutely nothing but present it back to you. To figure out what is causing all those hypos or hypers, you must look at the data yourself or have someone help you.” Bingo, Matt! I believe the Next Big Thing after iPhone integration has got to be smart algorithms that can flag trends and give us some recommendations about how to address them!
Matt also laments: “The inability to add free-form text to carb counts without creating a new tag is also very frustrating to me — I want to be able to tag the carb count with what I ate, but I haven’t found a good way to do this with the app. I also want to be able to search my past meals, so when I’m having a strange meal I could see if I’ve eaten something similar and don’t have to guess as much with my bolus amount.”
I hear you, Matt, but at the same time, for me personally, feeling compelled to type a bunch of text into my iPhone-based meter would kind of defeat the purpose, which is of course SIMPLICITY — making my life with diabetes easier, more streamlined, and less strewn with multiple gadgets that require my attention.
Here’s where the iBGStar is going to score huge points with patients, I believe. It’s small; it’s easy to use; it looks really cool; the app is more sophisticated than most, yet very intuitive; and it’s integrated with your cell phone, for God’s sake! It’s everything we’ve been waiting for! Now we just have to wait a little longer… on the gosh-darned FDA.
Thanks for giving a well rounded preview of this meter, I can’t wait to try it myself! One thing you didn’t mention is cost…any idea how expensive the meter and/or strips will be?
My dream, to have a meter attached to my iPhone. This might make me willing to move on from my Cozmo, which I love because the meter is attached to the back of it and is always there. No searching for a meter. This sounds great.
I have been waiting for this meter so It’s so exciting to read your review – and I’m really glad to hear you like it. I’m wondering how the accuracy is? I know Matt said he worried about accuracy if he didn’t get enough blood on the strip, but I was wondering if you compared the IBGStar results to the results on your current meter? Do they seem to match up?
Sign me up…I want to test it out next!
Can you have multiple devices tied to the meter (i.e, my husband’s iPhone, my iPhone, our iPad)? I was just thinking that it might be nice to pull up the app on the larger screen of our iPad to see the numbers/trends rather than looking at my phone.
I’m so excited for this and another thing I like is that it is small enough that I could slip it into the OmniPod’s case and test with it without creating lots more bulk. And it’s so much smaller than most meters that my daughter could easily carry it with her at all times, like when she’s out playing or bike riding. I usually carry her PDM for her, but this meter she could carry herself.
Not to mention that I have had my iPhone surgically implanted onto my hand!
The set retails for about €60 in the Netherlands. If you are feeling adventurous, you could try ordering one from a German retailer online.
I found out about this product from a pamphlet, displayed in my doctor’s office, around 3 weeks ago, and now I own one.
I ordered it in Germany, for €60 plus the cover, for an additional €12. It’s so easy to use!
Thanks I look forward to seeing one.
Can’t wait to get my hands on one of these. So cool.
I hope the FDA will be receiving lots of pressure to get this device approved quickly.
You’re lucky to have a first hand look at this Amy! But am I the only one who’s not all that excited about this? I’m not even too sure why not … the concept itself is pretty cool. Maybe because it’s still a separate device to have to carry. I’m sure no one would keep it attached to the phone all the time. Yeah it’s small but so is the Freestyle lite or Contour USB. And how easy would it be to review the reports? I’d rather have all that on a bigger screen I can look at (ie: iPad or laptop or desktop). Not trying to be a downer .. I just feel like I’m missing something!
Amy,
I tested one of the Agamatrix products a few years ago. I ran a 2 week parallel test to my One Touch UltraSmart and ran a parallel lab blood test. (This is how I always test meters. The features are less important to me than accuracy.)
I was very optimistic about the Agamatrix products because they are local (New Hamsphire) company and because their 2nd tier product line is very affordable.
I was sadly disappointed to find as inaccurate as my One Touch Ultra Smart is the Agamatrix product (which swears up and down they are more accurate) was more inaccurate.
So – cuteness, convenience and playful features aside, have you run the meter parallel to your existing meter and have you done a lab blood test to see how far off it really is (and we all know they are!).
Thanks.
Doris J. Dickson
With the APP, is there anyway to check in from a remote location? Ie… a student at school tests on their phone and mom at work can check the blood sugar log from her computer?
Now this is the technology parents need. Something that can connect us to our pre-teens/teenagers in allowing freedom under careful supervision.
Really liked the test but I don’t agree on several things!
First of all we all have to understand that all meters are insecure.
This is an effect of a compromis, it is not a lab measure it is kind of DIYS.
this causes a know varity of +/- 10% (so 20% is accepted!)
The lancets are very small, so they fit in the small etui.
I was one of the first users of the iBGstar. Never, never the measurement didn’t work. Within 3 seconds you’ll know the result.
Only in bright sunlight the result is hard to see (using the meter without iPHone). After 1 1/2 month testing bot iBGstar and the regular BGstar I wonder why non of the compatitors ever made a device as good as this one!
Dutch: diabetic 1 since 2009
@amy, you can email the results out of the app anywhere you like.
@Doris you really can’t test the accuracy of a meter by comparing it to another meter. I’d love to do this, but either meter could have inaccuracies.
Here’s why I think the WaveSense meters are more accurate. I used a OneTouch Ultra (older meter) to calibrate my first Dexcom, it was the only meter that would work with those Dexcoms. When they allowed me to calibrate by entering a number, I changed back to a WaveSense meter. My next A1c was substantially down (I think about 1%) and I hadn’t really changed anything else. I believe that was because the WaveSense meter was calibrating more accurately which allowed me to control more accurately.
Bernard … I believe I said to compare it to a lab test in addition to running a parallel test against my One Touch UltraSmart.
Having the ability to compare a meter’s results to a lab test (which has the highest chance of being accurate) is the only way I agree to demo a meter. (Contemplating a change in A1C isn’t apples to apples.)
I also run the meter parallel because I know how inaccurate the UltraSmart (which I have run against a lab test several times) is. The Wavesense is substantially more inaccurate. I want to see what happens at different points in the blood sugar spectrum.
Meter manufacturers readily admit they only care about lows so the meters will be less inaccuare at the 40-80 spectrum. The 80-140 ish spectrum they use every inch (if not more) of the 20% inaccuracy permitted by the FDA. Beyond that all bets are off. They even said they don’t care about >200. Clearly they don’t take insulin and attempt to dose for an accurate correction.
So … as you see, I could care less about features, size, color, downloads, software, etc. if the meter is NOT accurate. My health and blood sugar control is far more important.
I am a small doser. I am highly insulin sensitive with a correction ratio of about 1:75/80 points with Humalog, 1:45 ish with Apidra and Regular. Novolog is about the same as Humalog. I even know that each OD of Levemir drops me about 35 points per 1/2 unit. I basal and bolus test regularly to confirm (this requires fasting).
Amy … I’m fully aware a meter isn’t a lab test. A lab test is the gold standard and as close to accurate as is currently available. The small dosing of pumps is useless without accurate testing. Calibrating CGMSs to meters is useless without accuracy (thus their 40-60% inaccuracy). So, please explain to me why we shouldn’t expect better than 20% inaccuracy relative to a lab test please? No excuses to the manufactures who are sponsors please.
Will there be a Android version of this?
RE: Doris … I, too, am ultra insulin sensitive. I had my meters tested against a lab BG last year, and there was a difference, but not drastic. What I WAS upset about last summer was that I had blood drawn at the same time and sent to two different labs to see what they thought my A1C was. One lab was .3 higher than the other. THAT upset me, but didn’t surprise my endo – not one bit!
[...] ainda não foi liberado pelo FDA para ser comercializado nos EUA, mas, Amy Tenderich, do blog DiabetesMine, uma jornalista, blogueira, diabética, recebeu um dos primeiros Kits para [...]
I have to admit – I don’t possess alot of the fancy gizmo’s that most folks do these days – so wouldn’t be able to use this app. All I know is, after seeing some of the remarks back forth above – my main goal in my blood testing is to be able to test easily so that I don’t get put off and not keep track of my D-health. Accuracy? Well, it would be good – I’m now using an insulin pump – so far the BG meter I use Freestyle Lite – works great for me
Curious Amy what size of blood droplet do you have to use – that’s one thing I like about the Freestyle – uses the smallest amount of blood to get a reading.
All I can say to Doris – whatever works for the individual- is the main issue here – if you have a product that you hate to use – then you suffer health wise. If you can live with the inaccuracy of the product you use – then so be it. I have no idea how accurate my meter is – I just know – I’m happy with my A1C results (so is my endo – he says I don’t have to see him). So, obviously, my blood meter does the job!
Amy – curious to – what the cost of this is – but probably due to it not being approved yet by FDA (Canada will probably be a few years behind you) – they don’t have the full details to release to you yet.
I tried to reach out to IBGStar, but had no luck. Do you know how I can get this product to test or when it will be available in the USA?
Jack
I was one of the lucky ones to put hands on this over 18 months and very disappointed that they still haven’t approved it for sale in the USA. The timeline then was 1st Qtr 2011.
Any update on when we will have this for the USA market?
Hi,
I’m not that excited about this either. I use the Contour USB and it’s fabulous. Accuracy is great, I compared it for a week with my old OneTouch Ulra, pretty close. And what happens if you don’t have an IPhone or IPad and just have a regular laptop of PC?
Amy-
Regarding one of your disappointments with the product (“the fact that the app doesn’t automatically launch or open when you plug in a test strip or complete a BG test”), Apple’s iOS (iPhone’s operating system) does not allow for apps to run continuously in the background, or for apps to suddenly take over the phone and supplant whatever app you’re currently running, both of which would be necessary to achieve the sort of functionality you’re describing.
This limitation is not only built into the phone; Apple will immediately reject your app if you were to even try to subvert these protocols, if not for a litany of other reasons as Apple is notoriously stringent in approving apps (hmm… who does that remind us of?).
[...] Tenderich of Diabetes Mine Testing Out the iBGStar – First Plug-In Glucose Meter for the iPhone (I’m so anxious to get my hands–I mean Q’s fingertips–on this meter that [...]
I would love to get this for my 8 year old. I know you say the results can be emailed to anyone. My question: Will it automatically email the results or do you have to choose to email? With the new “find my friends” in iOS 5 they announced yesterday and an email of a low reading… Now that is a parent’s dream come true.
@Chad, in IOS4 after you select a 7, 30 or 90 days overview and generate it.
This opens the email app, but doesn’t send it automatically.
I like it this may; now in this app you can choose who you want to send it to, even with which email address (if you have more accounts on your IPHone like me).
Please, where did you purchase the blue little case for Ibgstar ?
Thanks
B -
You mention that you use the OmniPod for your pump. I notice you did not mention any integration between the OmniPod and the iBGStar. So, that means you are still using the OmniPod PDM for driving the Pod, correct?
If so, any word on the iPhone driving the Pod for bolus and carb calculation? Sounds like the iBGStar is actually a third device to carry now: iPhone, iBGStar, OmniPod PDM.
[...] Read the full review here. [...]
Hi,
Same question as LE BERRE ==> Please, where did you purchase the blue little case for Ibgstar ??
I just received my IBGStar today and having such a nice cover / case will be very very nice.
Regards
Emmenuel – where did you get yours from so fast? I have not seen them and my doc’s office hasn’t even heard of it yet.
Thanks!
Naplis –> I live in France and as Sanofi is a French company I think that the (wonderful, sorry !) Glucose Meter is available in France since September 2011.
But if the author of this “paper” could answer us about the blue case it will be very nice ;-(
The iBGStar was recently approved in the US by the FDA. Sanofi is gearing up to launch by April 1, 2012. It should be available in doctor’s offices after that.
Thanks David. That’s good news, but I wonder why it’ll take that long. My endos office still doesn’t know about it. Are you sure what you heard it right for the US? Other countries seem to have it already. Why are we always so slow to get new things?
This product makes so much sense that I will buy one even though it seems a bit rough around the edges. Two obvious modifications for the future: First, a Bluetooth connection, to avoid the rather silly need (in today’s world) for a physical connection; Second, Siri integration, so those of us too lazy to type can simply dictate carb levels or other notes.
I just got one of these today (picked it up yesterday from my diabetes clinic the in UK). I find it a bit of a mixed bag and am increasingly frustrated at not finding a BG meter that does the things I want!
For the last year or so I’ve been using the Accu-Check Aviva Expert and was really liking the bolus calculation (I’m on MDI basal/bolus) so thats one thing that’s missing with this right away.
I found out about the iBGStar at the same time as I got the accu-check so I’m a bit suprised Sanofi haven’t done more on the app development to include things like a bolus calc.
Really this thing feels a bit like one step forward 2 back – before the Accu-Check I was using the ultra-smart (lifescan) which had great logbook capability but was fiddly to enter data into. The Accu-Check Expert has lesser logging of everyday things (Excersise etc) but brought the bolus calc. Now with the iBGStar the interface via the ipod/phone is easier to use and it has good logging (at least on a par with the Ultrasmart) but I’ve lost the bolus calculation!
At least being based on an iphone app, it should be relatively easy for sanofi to add more functionality… I do get frustrated that because of the demographics of diabetes (lots of older sufferers who just want “something simple” with a big screen and limited complexity, the main companies seem reluctant to put together something with all of the functionality that would be useful for more technically minded diabetics like me! I don’t want to have to keep a paper log book to spot trends between blood glucose, insulin intake, carb intake, excersise and life in general! The tech exists to do that in one place on an integrated device!!
Anyway, long post… sorry! In short – the iBGStar has potential, but its not out and out great yet!
Paul
hi , i think i would have a problem having strips for this device , is there any chance it could work with one touch strips ? could u pls try that and tell me.
and i would like to know the cost of its strips
thnx
It would be uber cool if this were available at the Apple Store as well as the local pharmacy. Maybe the liability would be too much for them to have a medical device in a computer store. Still. it would be cool to buy it there instead.
The local pharmacies will have it on the shelves by mid April.
To answer a previous question, only iBGStar Strips will work with this meter. No other brand strips can be used.
Great review Amy. I had a chance to road test one of these before the official UK launch (today). I *loved* the meter and the app, but have stopped using it after getting a bunch of odd readings when testing against a couple of other meters (maybe it’s just me?!). Wrote a bit more about that here: http://www.everydayupsanddowns.co.uk/2012/03/ibgstar-review-blood-glucose-meter-for.html
PLEASE TELL ME there is an option for parents with Iphones to be able to view their child’s blood sugar readings from their iphone! If not, they REALLY missed the ball!
There’s another cool product on the market that utilizes your current meter and strips but brings all the benefits of iBGStar with it’s iphone connectivity and apps for only $40-
Check out Glooko.com
I think the person has to actively transmit the data for it to show up on your iphone. Anyone overseas where this is already out able to comment on this?
Style over substance as with all iPhone stuff.
You still can’t get way from having to carry pricking device and strips.
Managing with software is the way to go, but with something this important it should be all about practicalities and not having yet another Apple gadget to show off about.
As far as I can tell there is no way to push iBGStar data to iCloud (in order to sync/push data across multiple devices) – or if there is I can’t find it or any documentation about it. Sync seems to involve physical connection between meter and device. Of course (since 300 readings are stored) you could update Mom’s device manually every day/week or whatever whenever it is at home but that does not allow for automatic ‘remote monitoring’ during a school day for example the kid would need to email Mom the readings.
[...] kind of impact that could have on diabetes-related iPhone products like the Glooko cable and the iBGStar plug-in meter. Will they need a redesign, or just an adaptor? How much will this cost, and where will PWDs go to [...]
My disapointment with the IBGStar has to do with inaccuracy. I have used the IBGStar to compare with lab results during two separate Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests, by reading the IBGStar immediately prior to drawing blood sample at the lab. During the first OGTT done in October 31st this year, the IBGStar read 7%, 9% and 13% higher than lab values at start of test, 1h and 2h intervals, respectively. During the second OGTT done in September 20, 2012, the IBGStar read 7%, 6%, 12%, 13%, 32% and 46% higher than lab values at varios time intervals. The number of data may be few but from this data I conclude this device to be consistently higher than lab results, with a couple of readings out of the +/-20% FDA range. I would like to switch to a more accurate reader and would appreciate your recomendation. Thanks.
I love the meter and I can’t wait to get mine! Where can I get the carrying case shown in the article? (the bright blue one)
I’m not happy. It gives me readings at least 2 points higher than my other meter. Their rep says that it “works differently”. I am told that I should not compare it with my other meter. WOW! Let’s see ….. my reading is 5.2 but my other meter says 3.2 “low blood sugar”. Can I drive? Since my blood sugar is an average of 2 points higher now, does my Dr. lower my meds? They wont answer those questions and just say my meter “works fine”.
I told this to my Dr. and she said that I am not allowed to use the ibgstar. Theey will not discuss a refund. Anybody want a free igbstar?