GlucoKit Receives High Praise From Users

D. Joffe, R.Ph., CDE, FACA, Editor in Chief

 

In a 30 day feedback survey conducted by Diabetes in Control for CommAve, LLC, medical professionals and diabetes patients from 50 locations used the glucokit™.

CommAve, LLC was founded by a former product manager for a large international diabetes device company with the goal of bringing high quality patient friendly products to the market. The glucokit™ was designed to help the diabetes patient easily carry their monitoring devices and supplies with an ultimate goal of increasing monitoring compliance. They wanted professional and patient feedback on their new device.

The participants integrated their current meters and accessories with the glucokit™ components and used the integrated test kit for 4 to 5 weeks.

Our Study focused on 3 main points while allowing the participants to offer suggestions or comments on improvements :

1. Added convenience by making it easier to carry and easier to test
2. Improved compliance to individual diabetes management plans enabling tighter control
3. Increased testing frequency more in line with recommended levels of testing

Materials and Methods

The 50 participants were selected on the basis of their testing equipment, medications, type of diabetes and completeness of their responses. glucokits™ were delivered to the participants in December.

A variety of meters and accessories were integrated with glucokit™ representing all of the leading suppliers of blood glucose test systems;

J&J/LifeScan (Ultra, UltraSmart, FastTake, InDuo),

Roche/Accu-chek (Active, Advantage),

TheraSense (Freestyle(blue), Freestyle Flash),

Bayer/Ascensia (Breeze, DEX2, Elite),

BD (Logic)

MediSense/Precision (QID).

The volunteers with older, larger and/or slower meters than those listed above were not included in this study. Several meters currently produced are very similar in size and shape to the above list and may also be recommended for use with glucokit™.

User feedback was compiled in January and is summarized in the Results section.

Results

37 participants or 74% completed the study. Of those that did not complete fully, they either did not submit the forms or actually never started using the device.

62% of the respondents favored the glucokit™ over their current method of meter carrying and storage.

38% felt that either their current monitor carrying device was adequate or that the glucokit added no advantages. Of these a high percentage, 61%, indicated that although the glucokit was good for their meter, they preferred a bigger case in order to carry extra supplies, such as insulin, syringes, glucose tabs and cotton balls.

Overall responses are detailed in Table 1-1 with a rating of 5 indicating a strong agreement with each statement. It is of interest to note that even those that would not replace their current carrying device found positives from using the glucokit™

As to our original focus points:

63% of positive respondents felt the glucokit™ would add convenience to their monitoring

43% of positive respondents felt the glucokit™ would increase their monitoring frequency an average of 21% with some respondents increasing frequency as much as 36%. Amongst all positive respondents testing increased an average of 7%

Typically when traveling, exercising, dining out, or on the job, basically while away from home, monitoring is decreased. 35% of the respondents who used the glucokit™ felt confident that they would monitor more often during these times.

Of significant importance to Medical professionals who grapple with patient non-compliance, is the 29% of respondents who indicated that the glucokit would reduce their excuses for not monitoring.

62% of all respondents indicated this is the type of product that a meter company should offer to their users. 51% of the respondents felt the inclusion of this type of device with a meter would influence their choice of a meter.

Since CommAve LLC intended to solicit comments concerning possible changes or improvements to the product it is of interest to note that 86% of respondents offered comment on the product.

Please see Table 1-2 and Table 1-3 for details.

Conclusions

People with diabetes need all the help they can get to manage their diabetes effectively. One essential part of managing diabetes is to know what your blood glucose levels are throughout the day. Many people don’t test when they should because the test kits are too inconvenient and bulky to suite our busy life styles. Often when in public or on the go, tests are delayed or not performed at all. Changes in BG levels go undetected and the opportunity to maintain tighter control is lost.

Our study suggests that people with diabetes that would use the glucokit would:

• keep most components of their BG monitoring system together
• find it easier to carry their current meter and accessories and
• find it easier to test, especially when they’re on the go but often at home as well.

So if you’re looking for a smaller test kit and/or having difficulty consistently testing at the right time, perhaps glucokit is a good product for you. Its convenience should improve your daily quality of life and also enable tighter control of your BG levels. It also seems like the $13.95 cost will help you make the most of those expensive strips, medications and planning sessions with your support team.

For further product information please visit http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/ads/glucokit/dest.shtml or contact the developer, CommAve LLC, via email at info@glucokit.com or by phone at 978-371-7383.

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Data Pages:

Table 1-1

Statements from Questionnaire 5 indicates a strong agreement with each statement	prefer glucokit by itself or with current case	prefer just their current case	total
	62%	38%	100%
Upon receiving the GlucoKit I found the directions easy to understand and with enough detail	4.38	3.85	4.18
During the assembly I found the GlucoKit easy to configure for my meter lancing device and supplies	3.86	2.08	3.18
I found the correct bands and fasteners in the kit to accommodate my meter and supplies	4.57	3.15	4.03
During the assembly I found the label and rectangular fastener easy to attach to the frame	4.62	4.08	4.41
During the assembly I found it easy to attach the bands to the accessories and slide them onto the frame	3.86	2.39	3.29
While using the GlucoKit I felt less likely to leave behind or lose supplies	4.57	2.31	3.71
The GlucoKit made it easier for me to test	4.62	2.00	3.62
The GlucoKit made it easier for me to test without significantly interrupting what I was doing	4.24	2.00	3.38
The GlucoKit allowed me to carry my supplies and perform tests without drawing so much attention from those around me	3.81	2.08	3.15
When traveling exercising dining out or on the job basically while away from home the GlucoKit gave me extra confidence to test when I should	4.00	2.31	3.35
I found that having the GlucoKit reduced the number of excuses for not testing as often as my medical professional recommended	3.76	1.69	2.97
Because the GlucoKit has made testing easier and more convenient I am checking my glucose more often	3.43	1.69	2.76
I prefer GlucoKit to the carrying case provided by my meter manufacturer	4.24	1.08	3.03
This would be the type of product that a meter company should offer to their users	4.52	2.77	3.85

Table 1-2

62%	Liked it because it kept things together, made testing easier, minimized the unpacking and repacking of accessories, made their testing kit smaller, made testing more discreet in public and/or steadied their lancing device.
	The following percentages are based only on the 62% that liked glucokit.
74%	thought $13.95 was a "Fair Price"
21%	did not want to improve anything
79%	Suggested improvements, either as product upgrades or options made available after purchase of glucokit. Of this 79% the following suggestions were made:
21%	wanted the option of a protective and/or stylish case to better protect the meter or accessories.
11%	wanted the option of small pen to record data.
11%	wanted the option of a shorter lancing device.
26%	wanted a larger vial included with glucokit.
32%	wanted more straps (fasteners) included with glucokit.
68%	needed fewer or no logcards or logcard holders included with glucokit.
16%	wanted better labeling (bigger print, more photos showing how components can be assembled)
63%	Estimated that using glucokit would not result in additional testing, but would add convenience.
37%	estimated that they would test more often with glucokit. Among those that liked the device this equates to an average increase in testing of 7%. Some individuals would increase their testing between 11% and 37%.

Table 1-3

We asked all the participants to explain what they liked about glucokit and also to suggest improvements. Here’s a representative sample of the comments from both groups, those that liked it and those that didn’t:

Those that liked glucokit™ responded as follows:

I like the glucokit because:	If I could improve the glucokit I would:
makes things easier	leave it alone
I appreciate the convenience of having everything together,without a big bulky carrying case.	nothing
Convenience, reduces interruptions of normal" activities eliminates fishing expeditions into my "diabetic" supplies bag prevents loss of equipment/supplies by leaving them behind compact enough to fit into shirt or coat pocket -- don't have to lug large bag around for quick/short trips"	.....Short of developing another product or changes to glucokit, perhaps you could co-op advertise/market with manufacturer of the Freo insulin wallet or similar products. By using the glucokit and my Freo wallet, I can actually do without my large bag for up to 48 hours. I like that a lot!!!
GlucoKit kept every thing I needed to test together so I didn't need to unpack and repack each time. It also kept the lancing device steadier each time I used it. My Dr. likes it.	Please make the instructions BIGGER. And make the assembly a little easier. Add one touch UltraSmart to the instructions.
It made testing at home EASIER. It is normally difficult to get the drop of blood onto small test area. By raising the meter off of the tabletop, my testing life is now EASIER.	include a shorter lancing device.
It made it easier to check with out feeling like the whole world was watching me.	make it more available for the general population of diabetics to use.
It makes it easier to test while in a location where you might not be able to handle strips, meter, and lancet device separately. The GlucoKit fit very nicely into my case and made it somewhat easier to test. Sometimes being discreet is necessary such as a movie or other such event but overall testing in public does not bother me."	.....Since I test so often I carry extra lancets many cotton balls additional vials of strips and other supplies. I also carry the other medications I need to take during the day. This of course does not apply to everybody so I think the GlucoKit is ideal for people who test less often and do not need to carry around extra supplies.

Those that didn’t like glucokit™ responded as follows:

I did not like the GlucoKit because:	But…If I could improve the GlucoKit I would:
Personally, I do not think the glucokit is worth marketing	have some kind of pouch or covering to keep it clean and thus more sanitary. I had difficulty putting it together as I have diabetic neuropathy in my hands and it is awkward to deal with small pieces.
I didn't really like it because I felt like it wasn't really sturdy, and I felt like the meter would fall off. Also because I found it hard to use the lancing device without taking it off, which was a pain. It's not very discreet as well	I would make it sturdier and easier to use the black cylindrical bands. I never figured out how to use the other strap that was enclosed.
The LifeScan case works much better, more discreet and looks better. The Glucokit drew observers who didn't know I was a diabetic, even though I had been using the regular case for about 6 months.	I don't think you can, it tries to hard to fit too many devices and looks cheap when assembled
I did not really like the glucokit. I take my meter with me to work etc.. and felt my meter was much more out in the open and vulnerable to breakage than in my meter carrying case. I have a big enough case that I can keep everything handy and easy to access.	I could not fit all my supplies on it. If I attach the strip vial, I could not attach the glucokit vial. There was no place to put the used strips. Overall I preferred the carrying case that came with the meter. The glucokit really didn't save that much space. Some sort of way to attach to your belt might make it better.

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