Australian Meter/Game System: Glucoboy

Found another new meter, unfortunately only available in Australia right now. The Glucoboy is made Guidance Interactive (I can't find any other meter products by them) in partnership with Nintendo, and is targeted at children. Apparently this became available in November or December 2007 after several years of development. I'm not aware of any other meters specifically designed for juvenile diabetics, and I think it's a great idea.

Aside from the standard meter functions, the Glucoboy has a bunch of built in games that offer reward points though 'GRiP', a guidance reward platform. This includes an online community to help encourage good diabetes management. It sounds like testing regularly earns you more points, which are then spent inside the games or on the website.

The Glucoboy requires you own a Nintendo DS or or a Gameboy Advance to play the games - You plug it in as if it were a Gameboy cartridge to play. The device itself is designed in white and bright orange, and looks very kid friendly. It retails for $299.00 AUD, so it is quite expensive for a meter or a game (Though I don't know how other meters compare in Australia - in Canada meters run about $50 CAD, though you never have to pay for them). The strips are bright orange, and retail for around $31.30AUD for 50. They're planning a lot of accessories to go along with this meter as well.

I'm not Type one, so I have no experience with being a child with diabetes, but I'd like to think this device is a good idea. It seems like a way of making all the unfamiliar changes that come with a diagnosis a little easier to learn by putting it in the familiar context of video games. I would think one of these would be 'cooler' to take to school.

Of course, any child is going to get tired of a game after a while (or at least I always do), but it might be a good way to form the habit of regular testing. Of course, it would be great if Nintendo continued to put out games, or found a way to link the incentive points with their regular offerings.

Any Type 1's or Type 1 Parents out there care to give an opinion in this? I'm really interested in hearing a thought from the inside.