The Accu-Chek Smart Pix reads results from the blood glucose meter or insulin pump, then displays them in easy-to-understand charts on the computerⁱ. For the 2.5 million people diagnosed with diabetesⁱⁱ, tight glucose management is still the best way to manage fluctuations in blood sugar levels which can lead to complications like blindness and amputationⁱⁱⁱ. The speed and simplicity with which Smart Pix works allows patients to create reports, easily spot out-of-range readings and track patterns they may not have otherwise spotted. This can lead to better management of their condition and ultimately more freedom in their lifestyle. The results can be shared with healthcare professionals to enhance patient care.

"Empowering a person with diabetes to manage their condition closely can make a huge difference to that person's life," commented Dr Iain Cranston, Clinical Director from Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth. "Smart Pix enables patients to take control at home, as they can track their blood sugar levels and spot any trends through easy-to-read colourful graphics, thus avoiding the use of paper records. The patient is then able to see how alterations to their diet or lifestyle affect their condition and reap the long-term benefits of those intelligent choices. As a healthcare professional, I warmly welcome this device which provides actionable information, making consultations with patients more effective."

The Accu-Chek Smart Pix is available at £14.99^iv by calling the Accu-Chek Care Line on 0800 701 000 (UK) or 1 800 709 600 (Republic of Ireland). The technology behind Smart Pix is constantly developing and complimentary software updates are available to download. Accu-Chek Smart Pix is compatible with all Accu-Chek blood glucose meters, including the slick new Accu-Chek Aviva Nano ^v. Visit www.accu-chek.co.uk/smartpix for more information.

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As the world's biggest biotech company and an innovator of products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people's health and quality of life. Roche is the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics and drugs for cancer and transplantation, and is a market leader in virology. It is also active in other major therapeutic areas such as autoimmune diseases, inflammatory and metabolic disorders and diseases of the central nervous system. In 2008 sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totalled 36.0 billion Swiss francs, and sales by the Diagnostics Division posted 9.7 billion Swiss francs. Roche Diabetes Care posted 2008 sales of 2.9 billion Swiss francs. Roche has R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai, and invested nearly 9 billion Swiss francs in R&D in 2008. Worldwide, the Group employs about 80,000 people. Additional information is available on the Internet at www.roche.com.

Roche Diabetes Care is a pioneer in the development of blood glucose monitoring systems and a global leader for diabetes management systems and services. For more than 30 years, the Accu-Chek brand has been dedicated to enable people with diabetes to live life as normal and active as possible as well as to empower healthcare professionals manage their patients' condition in an optimal way. Today, the Accu-Chek portfolio offers people with diabetes and healthcare professionals innovative products and impactful solutions for convenient, efficient and effective diabetes management spanning from blood glucose monitoring through information management to insulin delivery. The Accu-Chek brand encompasses blood glucose meters, insulin delivery systems, lancing devices, data management systems and education programs - leading to an improved medical outcome.
For more information please visit www.accu-chek.co.uk
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References:
ⁱ Accu-Chek Smart Pix connects to the computer via the USB port and reads results from the blood glucose meter or insulin pump via infrared
ⁱⁱ Diabetes UK - 2009
ⁱⁱⁱ Diabetes Control and Complications Trial on Type 1 diabetes (New England Journal of Medicine, 329(14), September 30, 1993); Martin S, Schneider B, Heinemann L, Lodwig V, Kurth H-J, Kolb H, Scherbaum W A: Self-monitoring of blood glucose in Type 2 diabetes and long-term outcome: an epidemiological cohort study. Diabetologia (2006) 49: 271-278
^iv Note: For a limited period only
^v Note: Accu-Chek Smart Pix is not compatible with the Accu-Chek Advantage blood glucose meter