Milpitas, Calif., April 19, 1996 -- A new blood glucose monitoring system specifically designed to make self-monitoring easy for the millions of people with diabetes who suffer from a wide range of physical limitations has been introduced by LifeScan, a Johnson & Johnson company. Called SureStep^®, the system provides needed assistance to people with diabetes who have difficulty monitoring because they already suffer from conditions such as nerve, circulatory and blood vessel damage, arthritis, tremors and vision impairment, or are newly diagnosed and are inexperienced testers. The new system will be a boon for the 75% of people with diabetes who have difficulty with blood application when monitoring their blood glucose level. In fact, a new survey by the National Association of Retail Druggists (N.A.R.D.) of more than 500 U.S. pharmacists showed that well over half of pharmacists ranked difficulty in getting enough blood (58%) and in applying blood to the test strip (59%) among the greatest barriers to self-monitoring. Visual impairment and trembling also rated strongly as challenges to self-monitoring.

"The SureStep System satisfies the previously unmet needs of a large group of people with diabetes who can now test their blood glucose with ease and confidence," says Donna Savage, SureStep Product Manager. "For example, the Arthritis Foundation has issued a favorable review of the system. A panel of healthcare professionals and consumers found the SureStep System to be particularly helpful to people with arthritis when compared with other monitoring products."

Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death by disease, affects 16 million Americans and costs $90 billion annually. Yet frequent monitoring and proper blood glucose control can reduce the major complications of diabetes by 60%, as proven by the National Institute of Health's landmark study, the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT).

The new SureStep System helps overcome many of the barriers to monitoring caused by vision and dexterity problems. For example, the unique test strip actually "forgives" poor technique by providing maximum flexibility in blood application. Now, a person can easily apply blood to the absorbent test strip without fear of ruining the test or getting the system dirty. In addition, the SureStep^® Test Strip is the only strip with a blue dot that confirms -- before the test -- that enough blood has been applied. This also increases an individual's confidence while reducing the need to "do it again" with a new strip and another drop of blood -- a painful and unpleasant proposition for many people who find testing difficult.

The meter's large display with bold characters makes it easy for people to see their result and take immediate action as needed. This is particularly important because 38% of people with diabetes are visually impaired and many others suffer from occasional blurred vision caused by uncontrolled blood glucose. Associated Services for the Blind, a Philadelphia-based non-profit agency that serves blind and visually impaired people, recommends SureStep as an easy-to-use system for visually impaired people with diabetes.

SureStep Test Strips are packaged in an easy-open bottle with a large twist-off cap. Other test strip brands are individually foil wrapped or vial-packed with a cork-like lid that can be more difficult to open for people with limited dexterity.

The compact SureStep System requires only three simple steps to obtain an accurate blood glucose reading: 1) Turn on the meter and apply blood to the test strip; 2) Turn the strip over and check for the blue dot confirming that enough blood has been applied; and 3) Insert the strip into the meter. Accurate results appear in as little as 15 seconds.

Because the test strip is absorbent, it stays dry to the touch and helps keep the system clean. For added convenience the system also automatically stores up to 10 test results to make logbook updates easy.

The SureStep Blood Glucose Monitoring System will be available in pharmacies in June. The system includes everything needed to begin testing: The SureStep Blood Glucose Meter, 25 SureStep Test Strips, Control Solution, lancing device, 25 lancets, carry case, AAA batteries and complete instructions. The system comes with a 3-year warranty, 30-day money back guarantee, and 24-hour technical support via a toll-free number: 1 800 227-8862.

Committed to improving the quality of life for people with diabetes, LifeScan is the leading maker of blood glucose monitoring systems that provide simple solutions that meet the different self-monitoring needs of people with diabetes. The SureStep System joins LifeScan's growing consumer product family that includes the OneTouch^®Profile^® Diabetes Tracking System, the full-featured system for people actively involved in managing their diabetes, and the OneTouch^® Basic^®, a value-priced system for people who just want an accurate test result quickly and simply. LifeScan systems are recommended by more physicians, diabetes educators and pharmacists than any other brand. Every day more than two million people with diabetes rely on LifeScan systems to help them lead healthier lives.

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