Bayer Introduces Contour USB - The First Blood Glucose Meter With Unique Plug & Play Diabetes Management Software.

Online, August 30, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Bayer's CONTOUR USB is a cutting edge, premium meter that connects directly to a PC or MAC and can store up to 2,000 test results. The built-in USB technology allows patients to simply plug in to gain knowledge about trends and patterns in their blood glucose levels. Ongoing data tracking and accurate information sharing are key to good diabetes management.

The CONTOUR USB meter facilitates data organization and management - transforming results into meaningful insights that healthcare professionals and their patients can readily discuss. "This is an ideal blood glucose monitor for patients who are highly engaged in managing their diabetes, particularly those on insulin who must test frequently," said David Simmons, MD, chief medical officer for Bayer Diabetes Care. "With the CONTOUR USB meter, patients are able to review their results with their healthcare professional during an office visit, over the phone, or via email giving them the opportunity to make treatment adjustments, such as taking action to reduce their A1C levels, if necessary."

Measurement of A1C provides an average assessment of blood sugar levels over the past three months - and is an indicator of how well diabetes is being controlled over the longer term. Studies have shown that routine tracking of blood glucose can help patients better manage their blood sugar and may result in a lower A1C level, which is important for consistent diabetes management. In fact, even a one-percent reduction in A1C reduces the risk of serious complications by 40 percent.

Bayer's CONTOUR USB meter features:

• A bright color display screen visible in any light that shows average, high and low readings
• Customizable features such as intuitive pre- and post-meal marking
• 500MB extra memory for storage of personal diabetes information
• Rechargeable battery that can charge from any USB port or via the CONTOUR USB wall charger provided
• Glucofacts™ DELUXE diabetes management software (use of Bayer's diabetes management software has been shown to significantly lower A1C and a sustained A1C reduction could lead to potential cost savings.)

The CONTOUR USB meter is based on Bayer's trusted CONTOUR system, providing the same easy accuracy, No Coding™ technology, no interference with maltose, galactose, and oxygen and automatic correction for hematocrit and common interfering substances (e.g. acetaminophen, ascorbic acid), as well as a 5-second test time and small (0.6 µL) sample size - all helping to simplify life with diabetes. The CONTOUR USB meter uses CONTOUR blood glucose test strips currently available for other CONTOUR meters.

Nick Jonas of The Jonas Brothers, who has diabetes and is a diabetes ambassador for Bayer, said, "I already use Bayer's CONTOUR meter to monitor my blood glucose and my doctor always talks about how important it is track my results. I am excited to try out the new CONTOUR USB meter, because I can plug it in to a computer from wherever I am to get the information I need to manage my diabetes."

Bayer's CONTOUR USB meter will soon be available for sale in the U.S. For more information, visit www.BayerContourUSB.com.

About Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Approximately 23.6 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes, which put them at risk for developing serious health complications over time, such as heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, and stroke.

Type 1 diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes, is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. In persons with type 1 diabetes, the body makes little or no insulin, which may result in many complications if glucose levels are not controlled.

Type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed in adults, although increasingly, children are being diagnosed with this disease. Type 2 is associated with obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity.