["Glucosensor Unitec Ulm". A portable, continuously measuring glucose sensor and monitor]

The "Glucosensor Unitec Ulm" is the first commercially available, portable glucose monitor that permits continuous measurement in venous blood under ambulatory conditions for up to 256 hours. The device weights 850 g, and measures 15 x 19 x 7 cm. Depending on the flow rate of the pump, the blood requirement is 15-25 ml/24 h. The size of the built-in-memory is 32 kByte, enough to store 3180-15,900 glucose values. The "24 hour glucogram" obtained under day to day living conditions permits the detection of disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism. Thus, early abnormalities of type II diabetes can be detected as well the degree of blood glucose normalization in patients suffering from severe insulin-dependent diabetes. Moreover, the effects of glucose-lowering drugs can be analyzed objectively. Finally, this portable glucose monitor permits the recognition of hypoglycemia induced by insulin administration or endogenous insulin overproduction due to tumors.