Low cost blood glucose meters as an appropriate healthcare technology for developing countries

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. New diagnoses continue to rise along with the significance of the disease. Changing lifestyles lead to a reduction in physical activity and increase in obesity rates. As a result the costs for healthcare provision are rising. Along with education and healthier lifestyle choices, self monitoring of glucose levels can help keep glucose levels under control thus helping to reduce complications of the condition, thereby reducing the impact to national healthcare budgets. Technology advances, particularly in the semiconductor industry, have helped reduce the costs of electronic components. Glucose meter manufacturers have leveraged these trends to produce lower cost devices, combined with diabetes management tools purposefully designed for developing countries have enable greater penetration and reach more of the diabetic population.