A handheld add-on that checks your blood sugar

NEW YORK: A hand-held computer can keep you organized, but can it save your life? A blood-sugar monitor for the Handspring, a Palm Pilot-style organizer, is the latest attempt to get portable computers in the hands of health workers and patients.

TheraSense Inc., an Alameda, California-based medical device maker, earlier this week said it got clearance from U.S. health regulators to begin selling the FreeStyle Tracker diabetes management system for the Handspring. Joining other Handspring add-on devices such as a digital music player and a mobile phone, the FreeStyle allows diabetics to test blood sugar levels and to graph and chart the data over time.

Rival Palm Inc. is not to be left behind. On Tuesday, the company said it entered a two-year agreement with McKesson Corporation to jointly market mobile services to healthcare workers. Both Palm and Handspring are aiming to grow sales to corporations and specialty consumers. The companies have been far more successful selling devices at retail electronics stores.

(C) Reuters Ltd.