Web Sites And New Monitoring Gear Make Life Easier For Diabetics.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)(COMPUTERS MADE PLAIN)

Byline: MURRAY COLEMAN

Testing for diabetes has never been easier. Insulin monitoring devices are getting smaller. And there's new software in the works to let patients use their palm-sized monitors to analyze everything from fitness programs to menu items. Monitors can also tap into other forms of technology. New models work with handhelds and other wireless systems. "The more we can make testing easier for patients, the better they'll be able to recognize and manage their conditions," said Ed Fiorentino, a vice president at Abbott Laboratories Inc. Diabetes is now the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. by disease, says the American Diabetes Association. The ADA estimates $132 billion was spent last year in the U.S. to fight the illness. Equipment to monitor insulin levels is a $5 billion-a-year business worldwide, Fiorentino says. And it's growing at a 12% to 15% annual clip. "We have an aging population," said Fiorentino. "And the rest of the world is adopting more of a Western culture diet. That means their weight is going up as they eat more high-fat-content foods." Shrinking Monitors Abbott Labs was one of the early makers of glucose monitors. The devices were once large and nearly impossible to carry.

In the late 1980s, Abbott developed a new way to apply chemicals to a test strip. The strip went into much smaller monitors that could be taken home with patients. Today, monitors fit in your hand and digital displays give precise readings in seconds.

"Studies show that increases in the frequency of testing have significantly increased the health of diabetes patients," said Fiorentino.

Besides shrinking in size, monitors are becoming more affordable. Most cost between $60 and $200.

The upper-end models come complete with built-in software. The programs automatically record readings. Results can be downloaded to handheld devices or computers. Doctors use the Net-delivered data to chart and pinpoint health trends.

Some monitors even track workout results. Others let patients record their eating habits and store notes and suggested menus.