From Basic Glucose Meters to Dual-Function Blood Glucose and Uric Acid Monitors: How Diabetic Patients Should Choose

China has a large number of patients with chronic diseases.Among them, the number of patients with diabetes reached 116 million in 2019 and is expected to grow to 140 million by 2030. The number of patients with gout also reached as high as 100 million.Patients with chronic diseases typically face the risk of various acute and chronic complications. For example, patients with diabetes are at risk for multiple complications, including diabetic foot and diabetic retinopathy. To prevent and delay the onset of these complications, patients with chronic diseases need to engage in rigorous self-management.

However, most patients with chronic diseases have poor adherence. For instance, due to the insidious onset and prolonged course of diabetes, along with insufficient awareness of diabetes and its complications, some patients believe that the absence of symptoms indicates no problem and thus no need for blood glucose control. Some patients, fearing adverse drug reactions and pain, coupled with inadequate supervision by their family members,Insufficient patient self-management motivation and poor adherence ultimately lead to severe consequences.

Maintaining blood glucose levels within the normal range can effectively reduce the risk of diabetic complications. LetPatients’ awareness of the importance of monitoring blood glucose, uric acid, and other parameters, along with the correct selection and use of glucometers to measure blood glucose levels, has become a key component in diabetes management.

The earliest blood glucose meters were driven by patient needs, requiring patients to manually record test results after each measurement. These devices were gradually phased out due to their cumbersome operation. They were subsequently replaced by blood glucose meters equipped with built-in memory or Bluetooth modules, enabling local data storage or transmission to smartphones for storage.

Meanwhile,The development of a companion app for blood glucose meters has expanded the potential of these devices. Through a user-friendly smartphone interface, users can access more personalized blood glucose management services., such as formulating blood glucose management plans, medication reminders, coaching on abnormal blood glucose analysis, and online consultations via text and images, which facilitate long-term blood glucose management for patients. On this basis, some manufacturers are also attempting to break down the barriers between in-hospital and out-of-hospital blood glucose data management, thereby achieving comprehensive, all-scenario patient management.

In addition to advancements in intelligence, blood glucose meters are evolving from invasive to minimally invasive and non-invasive approaches. Non-invasive blood glucose testing primarily falls into two categories: methods based on extracting interstitial fluid externally and methods involving direct tissue detection. The former exhibits a certain time lag, requiring a longer waiting period. Research on the latter focuses mainly on near-infrared spectroscopy and metabolic heat conservation methods. Near-infrared spectroscopy is significantly affected by physiological interference in the human body, while the metabolic heat conservation method is highly sensitive to environmental factors such as humidity and temperature, with individual variations also impacting the results.Although most patients with chronic diseases expect non-invasive testing, it may not be suitable for everyone.

ViaDrawing a small amount of blood with a lancet for blood glucose testing is currently the mainstream method.Test accuracy is essentially guaranteed. Currently, two factors influence test accuracy: the testing instrument itself and the test strips. Regarding the instrument, key considerations include its sensitivity. As for the test strips, some have begun to adopt the latest glucose dehydrogenase method. This new technology is not subject to interference from maltose or galactose, offers stronger resistance to oxidative interference, and provides higher accuracy.

In the development of smart blood glucose meters, some relatively notable new advancements have also emerged.

Taking the SPUG Blood Glucose and Uric Acid Analyzer by Tang Hushi as an example, the Tang Hushi blood glucose meter is significantly more compact in appearance compared to previous models.Measuring just 38 mm × 28 mm × 7.5 mm, it features a compact design with a weight reduced to only 10 g, making it highly portable.The device currently only supports smartphones equipped with a Type-C interface. Adapters enabling compatibility with Apple devices will also be launched in late September.The biggest highlight of the Sugar Nurse SPUG is its ability to perform dual tests with a single device, measuring both blood glucose and uric acid levels.

To use the device, users must install and open the Tang Hushi (Sugar Nurse) app on their smartphone. For blood glucose testing, users need to tap the "Blood Glucose" option in the Tang Hushi app, then insert the Tang Hushi SPUG Blood Glucose and Uric Acid Meter into the smartphone. After disinfecting the finger to be pricked and the lancing device with an alcohol swab, the user takes a blood glucose test strip from the cartridge, inserts it into the SPUG meter, uses the lancing device to obtain a blood sample, and allows the test strip to absorb the blood. The results and analysis will be available after a 5-second wait. The process for testing uric acid is similar.In fact, after the blood glucose test is completed, users do not need to use the lancing device again; they only need to replace the uric acid test strip, insert it into the SPUG Blood Glucose and Uric Acid Analyzer for calibration, and then proceed with blood sampling to conduct the test., and the test results can be obtained in 25 seconds.

The tester is surprisingly compact,This is made possible by its screen-free design, allowing users to simply connect the device to a smartphone equipped with a Type-C port.In fact, there are some dual-test devices on the market. However, these devices adopt dual test ports, which may lead to users mistakenly inserting test strips during the testing process.The Tanghushi device addresses the issue of automatic recognition of blood glucose and uric acid test strips, achieving hardware and software compatibility with the distinct measurement requirements for both blood glucose and uric acid.

The removal of design elements such as a display screen also allows it to be priced lower than other smart blood glucose meters, with the kit costing just over 300 yuan.An Innovative Design Featuring a Blood Glucose and Uric Acid Tester as a Smartphone Accessory,Eliminating user concerns about outdoor portability and the inconvenience of a depleted tester battery., users do not need to prepare batteries for business trips or travel.Solving technical challenges such as compensation algorithms for instrument heat dissipation within such a compact space, which is also the advantage of the Tanghushi SUPU Blood Glucose and Uric Acid Tester.

The 2-in-1 device design allows patients to undergo both blood glucose and uric acid tests with a single needle stick, by drawing blood twice.Integrating the daily monitoring of blood glucose and uric acid—two common and interrelated chronic disease markers—into a single system also encourages patients to proactively monitor one marker when checking the other.

China currently has over 100 million patients with diabetes and approximately 100 million patients with gout, with a close association between the two conditions. Data indicate that for every 60 μmol/L increase in serum uric acid, the relative risk of developing hypertension increases by 1.4-fold, the risk of new-onset diabetes rises by 17%, and the risk of mortality from coronary heart disease increases by 12%. The prevalence of hyperuricemia (HUA) among patients with type 2 diabetes is approximately 20–25%.Hyperuricemia can impair pancreatic cell function, exacerbate insulin resistance, and lead to impaired glucose tolerance and the development of diabetes. Patients with diabetes may also experience renal impairment, which affects uric acid metabolism.

In fact, patients with chronic diseases usually suffer from multiple other conditions.VCBeat previously collaborated with Beijing Anzhen Hospital to randomly select 311 de-identified case records of hospitalized patients aged 20–45 with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases., data show that the triggers for these cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are diverse. The most primary risk factors are hypertension and hyperlipidemia, with 36.98% of patients diagnosed with hypertension and 49.2% diagnosed with hyperlipidemia. AndThe proportion of cardiovascular disease caused by multiple risk factors, including hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, and hyperhomocysteinemia, was 56.95%.

Patients with chronic diseases need to manage their own data from multiple dimensions. This cannot be achieved by merely having a blood glucose meter at home.Configuring a separate uric acid meter can help patients monitor their uric acid levels, but integrating uric acid data with blood glucose data presents a new challenge. This may well be the rationale behind the Sugar Nurse SPUG Blood Glucose and Uric Acid Meter, which integrates both measurements into a single device.

In terms of intelligence, the Tanghushi SPUG Blood Glucose and Uric Acid Analyzer also offers valuable insights. The Tanghushi APP already boasts millions of diabetic users and has further deepened its engagement on the application side. After patients use the Tanghushi SPUG Blood Glucose and Uric Acid Analyzer for testing, the data is automatically stored in the cloud and can be easily shared with friends and family, thereby enhancing their ability to monitor the patient’s condition.Upon completion of the test, patients can receive personalized data interpretation. Furthermore, Sugar Nurse’s exclusive weekly, monthly, and annual reports will help patients visually monitor their blood glucose and uric acid control outcomes.

Furthermore, users can access additional extended features through the Sugar Nurse app. For instance, after customizing their blood glucose management and medication plans, users receive medication reminders and exercise recommendations. The app also provides various food nutritional parameters, medication guides, and dietary advice, and even offers more than 100 professional books, delivering a vast repository of knowledge on diabetes and gout for patients.Community engagement will further enhance patient stickiness and improve adherence. When patients feel unwell and need medical consultation, Tang Hushi has integrated Medlink Internet Hospital into its mall’s pharmaceutical section., providing patients with online medical services such as follow-up consultations and e-prescriptions, as well as real-time guidance and recommendations.

Finally,Sinocare, China’s largest publicly listed manufacturer of blood glucose meters, manages the supply chain for the Tanghushi SPUG product, thereby ensuring its quality.Patients will also find competitive pricing advantages when purchasing test strip consumables subsequently.

From conventional blood glucose meters to smart blood glucose meters, and further to the emergence of dual-parameter testing devices, there remain diverse possibilities for the development of glucose monitoring technology. Although non-invasive blood glucose testing is gradually gaining traction, smart blood glucose meters with pronounced intelligent features are likely to remain the mainstream in the market for a considerable period.

It is foreseeable that,Future smart glucose meters will become further miniaturized and portable in device form factor, with enhanced anti-interference capabilities of test strips and improved testing accuracy. As research into various chronic diseases reveals their interconnections, these devices may no longer be limited to single-parameter testing but instead offer users a variety of testing options.

Taking the Sugar Nurse SPUG Blood Glucose and Uric Acid Analyzer as an example, it integrates both blood glucose and uric acid testing into a single device. The mutual influence between hyperglycemia and hyperuricemia underscores the importance of measuring uric acid levels alongside blood glucose, which highlights the value and significance of devices such as the Sugar Nurse SPUG.As devices become increasingly homogeneous, future competition will center on innovative equipment and services; the ability to deliver high-quality services will be key to the success of testing instruments.

This will involve greater intelligence behind the devices. With the digitalization of medical education, intelligent interaction in disease management, and the integration of big data and artificial intelligence technologies, the entire process of blood glucose management will be reshaped and redesigned.The physician-centric healthcare ecosystem will gradually transition to a more relaxed and proactive patient-centric model of self-management.

Ultimately, patients’ reliance on physicians and their habitual pattern of visiting the same hospital at fixed times will be reshaped. Patient autonomy will be further enhanced.As manufacturers and hospitals gradually integrate in-hospital and out-of-hospital data, the ability to control blood glucose levels in diabetic patients will be further enhanced, truly achieving comprehensive, all-scenario blood glucose management.For device manufacturers such as Sugar Nurse’s SPUG blood glucose and uric acid tester, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity.