Telcare, Inc., manufacturer of the first FDA-cleared wireless enabled glucose monitoring system, today unveiled the industry’s first program to compensate Certified Diabetes Educators for training diabetic patients to use the company’s wireless-enabled Blood Glucose Monitoring (BGM) System. Telcare BGM^® is the first FDA-cleared blood glucose meter that automatically transmits data to physicians, educators, and family members, while returning immediate feedback to the patient right on the screen of the meter. With Telcare’s system there is no need for the patient to do anything different – no wires to connect, no cell phone or cellular contract to buy, and no need to manually input readings. The system is widely reimbursed by health insurance, and offered at prices comparable to that of outdated unconnected meters.

“Telcare changes the whole equation for people with diabetes and for Diabetes Educators,” said Paula LeClair, Telcare’s senior VP of strategy and corporate development, who leads the program. “I wish this technology existed when my son was first diagnosed with diabetes. Once wireless health or mHealth as it is known is understood to transform the way we care for patients with diabetes, outdated unconnected glucose meters will go the way of the urine stick.”

The objective of Telcare’s Diabetes Educator program is to recruit and train a cadre of Certified Diabetes Educators who will be equipped to teach patients how best to use the Telcare BGM^® in managing their diabetes. While the device itself is as simple to use as a Kindle, there is an entire ecosystem of reports and self-management tools that might take patients months to discover. By compensating CDE’s for some initial training, Telcare can ensure that its patients get maximum benefit from the system right from the start. The company will certify licensed CDE’s and pharmacists at two levels: Certified Telcare Trainers (CTT) and Certified Telcare Experts (CTE). Educators wishing to attain CTT status may register at Telcare’s exhibit at the American Association of Diabetes Educators in Indianapolis or online at www.telcare.com/CTT. The CTE certification is reserved for those who manage people with Diabetes via the Telcare system and have mastered the art of coaching patients remotely via Telcare’s wireless technology. Both CTT’s and CTE’s will be equipped to represent Telcare at Diabetes conferences and public “diabetes days.”

“I believe that mHealth, as exemplified by Telcare, represents the future of Diabetes education. By providing real-time input to our patients based on reliable BG data, we are best equipped to provide real-time actionable input that helps people successfully manage their Diabetes,” said Sally Freas, CDE for Wilmington Health.

About Telcare

Telcare, Inc. uses wireless mHealth technology and social networking to bridge the last mile between patients with diabetes, their caregivers, and their families in order to transform the care of chronic illness. Telcare widely recognized as an industry leader and widely featured in the media, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Forbes, and Fox News. Among Telcare’s awards are the 2012 Gold Edison Award and the 2012 Triple Tree Award, along with two CTIA First Place eTech awards. Telcare creates an ecosystem of care that enables people with diabetes to better care for their condition. For more information, visit www.telcare.com. The company is funded by Qualcomm Ventures & private investors.