Readers of Voice of the Diabetic and other diabetes journals will know that the Cygnus Glucowatch Biographer is now available. While the Glucowatch is not truly non-invasive (the user must perform a conventional finger-stick test every 12 hours), the device provides a number of services not seen before. It is continuous, repetitive, and capable of recording patterns, results across time (rather than the "snapshot" results of a traditional blood glucose monitor). The Glucowatch can even be programmed to sound an alarm if your sugars dip too low--a great tool for folks with hypoglycemia unawareness.
The Glucowatch was originally tested on, and approved for, adults. The juvenile market was, as they say, "off-label." Cygnus, the manufacturer, has just announced FDA approval of its G2 model for age 17 and under. The company reports that in one recently completed "clinical" of 40 children and adolescents (who were in poor glucose control before start of the test), use of the Glucowatch led to significant and sustained improvement in glycemic control. That means Glucowatch users did a better job of avoiding both highs (hyperglycemia) and lows (hypoglycemia.)
It's about information. The more you know, about what your body is doing, about how you, personally, react to diet, exercise, medication, and time of day, the better job you can do of dealing with your diabetes. I'm sure a lot of children and adolescents will indeed prove mature enough to use this new tool.