People being treated for diabetes are set to benefit from a more customer-friendly and cost-efficient glucose testing meter which will be available islandwide by next week.

The innovative equipment will be available in two types - the institutional and the talking meter - which will be distributed by Wynlee Distributors. Both meters require only 0.6 microlitres of blood to do a reading which takes only six seconds. Additionally, lancets (needles) that are for one-time usage will be made available along with the meters.

Jose Castillo, sales representative of Diagnostic Devices Incorporated, which makes the meters, said the product costs between US$30 and $40, but will be available at a lower cost in Jamaica.

An application has been sent to the National Health Fund (NHF) by Wynlee Distributors for the meter to be available as part of the NHF's coverage plan.

Free of cost

Winsome Halliman, chief executive officer of Wynlee Distributors, said that under the NHF, the meters would initially be free of cost.

"The meters would be free of cost, but patients would have to buy two vials of strips to get this deal and also they would have to use the product. The meter will be preset in terms of time and date to ensure this," she said.

Mr. Castillo explained that the meters have several features that display the reading of the sample.

"When the reading is low, you will see a worried face, when the reading is normal, you will see a happy face and when it is high (over 120) you will see a sad face," he said.