Australian adults with diabetes now have the option of using a new glucose monitoring device which eliminates the need for routine finger pricking.
The system, which has been available in Europe for some years, involves a small sensor worn on the back of the arm for up to 14 days and a reader that scans for glucose readings day and night.
The Abbotts FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System gives a reading in less than a second, as well as displaying an eight-hour history and a trend arrow showing the direction the glucose is heading.
The device will make life easier for people living with diabetes who use insulin, whether type 1 or type 2, said Diabetes Australia spokesperson Renza Scibilia.
"It takes away the need to prick your finger to check what your blood glucose is," she told AAP, adding that many people find this painful.
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"It's really intrusive when it comes to what people are doing throughout the day.
"People are checking their blood sugar four, six, 10, 12 times a day, so it is a lot of times when people have to stop and do something that takes some time."
The disposable, water-resistant sensor lasts 14 days and costs $95, while the reader is the same price.
"I think that when there is an expense involved, it will be a barrier for some people," Ms Scibilia said.
"This is the next step in diabetes technology and we always support anything that does make living with diabetes more convenient for people."
Professor Stephen Twigg, Head of the RPA hospital's department of endocrinology, said the technology offers a highly convenient and painless way to get more frequent glucose readings.
"It enables detailed, actionable glucose profiles that will support people with diabetes across their day, and also encourages a more productive discussion between the patient and their healthcare professional," he said in a statement.
