HK1242550A1 - Blood glucose meter with low cost user interface having programmed graphic indicators - Google Patents

Description

Blood glucose meter with low cost user interface having programmed graphical indicators

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to handheld in vitro analyte meters, such as blood glucose meters, and more particularly to user interfaces.

Background

Diabetes mellitus (often referred to as diabetes) is a chronic disease in which the body fails to produce insulin, uses insulin, or both, resulting in an increase in the blood glucose level of the person. There are three main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually affects children and young adults and is associated with, for example, autoimmune diseases, genetic diseases, environmental diseases, or combinations of these. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95% of diabetes cases and is associated with obesity and lack of physical exercise. Gestational diabetes is a form of glucose intolerance that is diagnosed during pregnancy and is usually resolved soon after delivery.

In 2013, based on the international diabetes foundation diabetes data set, it was estimated that approximately 3.82 million people worldwide had diabetes, and 510 million people with an age between 20 and 79 were estimated to die of diabetes every year. In the united states, nearly 2400 million americans have diabetes, with 25% of the elderly estimated to be 60 and older, according to the united states centers for disease control and prevention. According to the national diabetes information exchange center, the U.S. costs $1740 million annually on diabetes alone are estimated to be in the united states. Without treatment, diabetes can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, amputation, and death associated with pneumonia and influenza.

Diabetics use blood glucose meters to measure blood glucose for the purpose of managing their blood glucose levels, depending on the therapeutic value, usually through the use of insulin, medication, diet, exercise, or a combination of these. Blood glucose meters are widely distributed to diabetics by test strip manufacturers and represent a significant health care expense. By using less costly user interface components (typically the most costly components of the meter) without having to resort toMaintaining the accuracy and performance of the meter with less costly measurement components can reduce the cost of the meter. Efforts to reduce user interface costs can result in difficulties for users to enter information into the meter (e.g., target blood glucose range) and to view graphical information. Some low cost glucose meters have a graphical display that uses indicators corresponding to a preset glucose range, such as Johnson&OneTouch SelectSimple, Johnson Ltd. is shown in(open 6 months 6 days 2014); U.S. patent publication No. 2010/0331650A 1 "Episodic blood glucose monitoring system with an interactive graphical user interface and methods of (30/12/2010), assigned to Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.; and U.S. patent publication No. 2012/0187001A 1 "Hand-held test meter with deep power consumption mode direct or generated signal application and method for applying a study of the Sucha meter", assigned to Lifescan, Inc. (26/7, 2012).

There is a need for a blood glucose meter with a low cost user interface having a graphical blood glucose measurement display programmed for a user's personal blood glucose target range.

Disclosure of Invention

A glucose meter with a low cost user interface has a color glucose scale indexed by an indicator programmed according to a user's glucose target range. The meter includes: an instrument housing having a bar port carried inside the instrument housing; a meter processor having a meter memory carried inside a meter housing; a measurement module coupled to the bar port and connected to the meter processor; a meter communication port coupled to the meter processor; a meter display coupled to the processor, comprising: a color blood glucose scale that is static and positioned adjacent to the display, the color blood glucose scale including a first color region that indicates a target range of the user, a second color region that indicates a higher than target range, and a third color region that indicates a lower than target range; a monochrome segmented display coupled to the processor; a plurality of numbers on a monochrome segmented display that displays a numeric blood glucose measurement; a plurality of indicators, comprising: a target range indicator on the monochrome segmented display positioned adjacent to a first color region of the color glycemic scale; a higher-than-target-range indicator on the monochrome segmented display positioned adjacent to a second color region of the color glycemic scale; a below target range indicator on the monochrome segmented display positioned adjacent to a third color region of the color glycemic scale; and an indicator scale module in non-transitory meter memory for calculating an indicator range for each of the plurality of indicators relative to a user target range. In some embodiments, the user target range can be a standard target range programmed into the meter. In other embodiments, a separate computing device can be used to program the user target range into the meter. In some embodiments, the blood glucose meter can be configured as a blood glucose measurement system that includes a separate computing device (e.g., a mobile phone or personal computer). The computing device has a target range field on a device display for entering a user target range that is communicated from the device communication port to the meter communication port for programming the user target range into the blood glucose meter.

A method for programming a graphical indicator on a blood glucose meter with a low cost user interface according to a user's blood glucose target range by a separate computing device. The method comprises the following steps: establishing communication between a blood glucose meter and a computing device; launching a diabetes application on a computing device; inputting the target range into a diabetes application; transmitting the target range from the computing device to the blood glucose meter; calculating, by the blood glucose meter, a target indicator range for each of the target range indicators by subdividing the user target range by a number of target range indicators; calculating, by the blood glucose meter, a higher-than (target) indicator range above each of the target range indicators by subdividing users above the target range by a number of higher-than-target-range indicators; calculating, by the blood glucose meter, a below (target) indicator range below each of the target range indicators by subdividing the user below the target range by the number of below target range indicators; storing, into a non-transitory memory, indicator ranges including a target indicator range for each of the target range indicators, a higher-than (target) indicator range above each of the target range indicators, and a lower-than (target) indicator range below each of the target range indicators; inserting a test strip into a strip port of a blood glucose meter to activate the blood glucose meter; applying a blood sample to a test strip to perform a blood glucose measurement; calculating a blood glucose measurement; displaying the blood glucose measurement in a digital manner on a blood glucose meter; and graphically displaying the blood glucose measurement by indexing the colored blood glucose scale by one of the plurality of indicators.

Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a diabetic person in a self-testing environment;

FIG. 2 shows a blood glucose meter with a colored glucose scale and an indicator;

FIG. 3 shows an electrical block diagram of a blood glucose meter;

FIG. 4 shows a numerically identified indicator adjacent to a color blood glucose scale;

FIGS. 5-11 illustrate an embodiment of a color blood glucose scale;

FIGS. 12-17 illustrate a blood glucose meter displaying various blood glucose values and an indicator index for a color blood glucose scale of a graphical display;

FIG. 18 shows a blood glucose meter in wireless communication with a computing device;

FIG. 19 shows a blood glucose meter in communication with a computing device via a cable;

FIG. 20 shows an electrical block diagram of a computing device; and

FIG. 21 illustrates a method for programming a blood glucose meter and performing blood glucose measurements.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a diabetic person 10 in a self-testing environment. The self-testing environment includes a handheld blood glucose meter 12, a test strip container 14, a test strip 16, a lancet 18, and a computing device 20. The diabetic person 10 is typically a user 10 of a blood glucose meter 12; however, the user 10 can also be a clinician, healthcare provider, family member, or other person. The meter 12 is operated by inserting the disposable test strip 16 into the meter 12. The user typically takes a blood sample from a finger to obtain a small drop of blood that is placed on the collection area of the test strip 16. Meter 12 performs an electrochemical or photometric analysis of the blood and displays the blood glucose measurement. The current blood glucose measurements are used for treatment decisions such as insulin dosage and carbohydrate consumption. The current blood glucose measurement is compared to a standard target blood glucose range (e.g., 70 mg/dL to about 160 mg/dL) or a personalized target blood glucose range based on the specific characteristics and therapy for the diabetic person.

Figure 2 shows a blood glucose meter with a colored glucose scale (with programmed indicators) and all indicators activated, as well as other display segments. The meter 12 includes a meter housing 22, a meter processor 24, a measurement module 26, a meter communication port 28, a meter display 30, a color blood glucose scale 32, a monochrome segmented display 34 having a plurality of indicators 36 and a plurality of numbers 37, and an indicator scale module 38. In some embodiments, the meter 12 can further include user interface buttons 40. The meter 12 is designed with a low cost user interface (typically the most expensive part of the meter), so the meter 12 can be more affordable without reducing its capabilities, e.g., measurement accuracy.

Fig. 3 shows an electrical block diagram of the blood glucose meter, and also refers to fig. 2. The meter 12 includes a meter processor 24, a measurement module 26, a meter communication port 28, a meter display 30, and an indicator scale module 38. In some embodiments, the meter 12 can further include a single user interface button 40 or a plurality of user interface buttons. In embodiments having a single user interface button 40, the button 40 is carried within the meter housing 22 and connected to the meter processor 24. Embodiments without user interface buttons or with a single user interface button 40 significantly reduce the cost of the meter user interface. However, it is not feasible to input the user target range 42 directly into an embodiment of the meter 12 that does not have user interface buttons or that has a single user interface button 40. In other embodiments, there can be multiple user interface buttons that would permit the user to enter the user target range 42 directly into the meter 12. The single user interface button 40 can be multi-functional to display the most recent blood glucose measurements, show blood glucose averages, perform display tests, activate and deactivate wireless communication for purposes such as flight mode, and activate pairing and de-pairing modes. A single user interface button 40 reduces user interface cost.

The meter housing 22 has a strip port 44 carried by the meter housing 22 or inside the meter housing 22 for receiving the test strip 16. The meter processor 24 has a meter memory 46 carried inside the meter housing 22. Measurement module 26 is coupled to strip port 44 and to meter processor 46. The meter communication port 28 is coupled to the meter processor and can be a wireless port (e.g., a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio) or a cable connector (e.g., a USB cable connector), or both. An example of a glucose meter 12-computing device 20 BLE Communication protocol is disclosed in U.S. patent application number 14/155,954 ("Low Energy Wireless Communication Systems and Methods for medical Devices") filed on 15/1 and 2014, assigned to Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc., which is incorporated herein by reference. The communication port 28 is used to communicate with the computing device 20 to implement, for example, the function of setting the diabetic person target range 42 on the meter 12.

The meter display 30 coupled to the processor 46 includes a color glucose scale 32 and a monochrome segmented display 34, wherein the color glucose scale 32 is static and carried by the meter housing 22 or positioned adjacent to the meter display 30. The colored glucose scale 32 includes a first color region 48 indicating a user target range 42, a second color region 50 indicating a higher than target range, and a third color region 52 indicating a lower than target range. The colored glucose scale 34 is positioned adjacent to a plurality of indicators 36, such as on the meter housing 22, molded into the meter housing 22, or affixed to the display 30. A plurality of numerals 37 on the monochrome segmented display 34 show digital blood glucose measurements and other information. In some embodiments, the meter display 30 can be electronic paper, and there can be a single indicator, rather than multiple indicators.

Figure 4 shows a numerically identified indicator adjacent to a colored blood glucose scale. The plurality of indicators includes: a target range indicator 54 (indicators 4-6) on the monochrome segmented display 34 positioned adjacent to the first color region 48 of the color blood glucose scale 32; a higher than target range indicator 56 (indicators 7-9) on the monochrome segmented display 34 positioned adjacent to the second color region 50 of the color blood glucose scale 32; the below target range indicator 58 (indicators 1-3) on the monochrome segmented display 34 is positioned adjacent to the third color region 52 of the color blood glucose scale 32. For example, in one embodiment, target range indicator 54 is programmed from approximately 70 mg/dL to approximately 160 mg/dL, above target range indicator 56 is programmed from approximately 161 mg/dL to approximately 300 mg/dL, and below target range indicator 58 is programmed from approximately 10mg/dL to approximately 69 mg/dL. The above-target range indicator 56 can also include a high range indicator 60 on the monochrome segmented display 34 positioned at the highest region of the second color region 50 of the color blood glucose scale 32 and having a predetermined high range, e.g., greater than about 600 mg/dL. The below-target range indicator 58 can also include a low range indicator 62 on the monochrome segmented display 34 positioned at a lowest region of the third color region 52 of the color glucose scale 32 and having a predetermined low range, for example, less than about 10 mg/dL. One or more of the indicators 36 can be configured with attributes to flash at a predetermined flash frequency, for example, from about 1 Hz to about 4 Hz. Because of the risk of inducing a tonic response (e.g., seizures in certain susceptible populations), flash frequencies above 4Hz are generally avoided. The numerically identified indicators 36 will be referenced in tables 1-3.

Fig. 5 to 11 show embodiments of a colored blood glucose scale. These patterns show a first color region 48 (typically green) for a target range, a second color region 50 (typically blue) for a range above the target range, and a third color region 52 (typically red) for a range below the target range. The color glucose scale 32 can be configured as a bar, segmented bar, circle, and the like. The colored glucose scale 32 configured as a bar can be a continuous bar or a bar with a dividing line or separation between ranges. The colored glucose scale 32 configured as a circle can be a point, circle, ellipse, other circular shape, and the like. The color glucose scale 32 can have many additional configurations that will still be used to graphically convey to the user the blood glucose measurement relative to the user's target range.

When indexed by the indicator 36, the color glucose scale 32 of the meter display produces a graphical display that places quantitative data of glucose measurement figures in a qualitative background of the user's glucose target range 42 to produce meaning. For users who may not remember their target range number 42, the graphical display provides a quick and easy to read and interpret visualization of the degree of correlation of the glucose number with the user's target range, with a reduced degree of confusion or resolution. While in some cases and for some diabetics 10 accurate blood glucose measurements are important (e.g., for input into a calculation to determine the amount of insulin or carbohydrate administered), placing this number in a graphical background facilitates its ease of use and readability in all cases and for all diabetics 10. Intuitive graphical feedback from the meter 12 is known to sound users because it is easy to view and psychologically easy to process, but may be particularly important for users with visual impairments. For a user with a visual impairment, the graphical display can be consulted first. If the blood glucose measurement is in the "normal" range, there may be no need to read the blood glucose measurement result number. For users with cognitive impairment, the graphical display can augment the digitally displayed "message" and be used for simple guidance whether to seek assistance.

An indicator scale module 38 located in the non-transitory meter memory 46 is used to calculate an indicator range for each of the plurality of indicators relative to the user target range 42. The indicator glucose range of target range indicator 54 is calculated by subdividing the target range by the number of target range indicators 54. The indicator blood glucose range above the target range indicator 56 is calculated by subdividing the above target range by the number of above target range indicators 56. The indicator glucose range below the target range indicator 58 is calculated by subdividing below the target range by the number of below target range indicators 58. In some embodiments, there can be one or more high indicators 60 and one or more low indicators 62 to permit larger gap sizes to be achieved for above target range indicators 56 and below target range indicators 58. The following table shows an example of an indicator scale module configuration for the indicator 36. In some embodiments, the scale can be logarithmic, particularly at the high and low ends of the scale.

Table 1 shows blood glucose (bG) target ranges of 70-160 mg/dL and bG range calculations for both above and below the target range, associated with a segment of indicator 36, indicator behavior, and indicator flash frequency. The sections of the indicator 36 are numbered as shown in fig. 4.

Table 2 shows blood glucose (bG) target ranges of 50-200 mg/dL and bG range calculations for both above and below the target range, associated with a segment of indicator 36, indicator behavior, and indicator flash frequency. The sections of the indicator 36 are numbered as shown in fig. 4.

Table 3 shows blood glucose (bG) target ranges of 60-190 mg/dL and bG range calculations for both above and below the target range, associated with a segment of indicator 36, indicator behavior, and indicator flash frequency. The sections of the indicator 36 are numbered as shown in fig. 4.

Fig. 12-17 show the blood glucose meter 12 displaying various blood glucose values and an indicator 36 indexing the colored blood glucose scale 32. Fig. 4 can be used to identify a target range indicator 54, a higher than target range indicator 56, and a lower than target range indicator 58. Fig. 13 shows that the monochrome segmented display can be reversed so that the numbers and icons are light (e.g., white) and the display background is dark (e.g., black). Fig. 14 shows a high indicator flash and fig. 16 shows a low indicator flash.

FIG. 18 shows a blood glucose meter in wireless communication with a mobile phone computing device. Prior to establishing communication, the Glucose Meter 12 is paired with the computing device 20, such as shown in U.S. patent application No. 14/172,043, "Pairing and Synchronizing a Mobile Phoneapplication with a Handhelded Glucose Meter," filed on 4.2.2014 and assigned to Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc., which is incorporated herein by reference. When paired, the Blood glucose meter 12 is then able to communicate Blood glucose measurements and other information to the computing device 20, such as shown in U.S. patent application No. 13/794,985, "transfer Blood glucose meters from a Handhelded glucose meter," filed on 12.3.2013 and assigned to Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc., which is incorporated herein by reference. The user interface of the glucose meter 12 has a single user interface button 40 that does not permit entry of detailed information (e.g., a target range 42). In some embodiments, the blood glucose meter 12 can be configured without any user interface buttons. In a configuration without user interface buttons, the meter 12 would be activated to perform blood glucose measurements and communications by simply inserting the test strip 16. Information (e.g., blood glucose target range 42) is entered into the computing device 20 and this information is communicated to the blood glucose meter 12 wirelessly or by cable. The mobile phone 20 has a diabetes management application 64 installed by downloading the diabetes management application from an internet app store (e.g., Google Play or Apple iTunes). The mobile phone application 64 performs functions other than providing a means for entering the target range 42 of the blood glucose meter 12, such as entering personal diabetes information, a work log for reviewing historical blood glucose measurements, and reports for visualizing blood glucose and other information. The glucose meter 12 uses the diabetic person's 10 blood glucose target range 42 to program the indicator 36 to index the appropriate point or region of the colored glucose scale 32. In addition, the blood glucose meter 12 data can be uploaded to the mobile phone computing device 20 and then to a diabetes management system maintained on a server connected to a network (e.g., the world wide web).

Fig. 19 shows a blood glucose meter that communicates with a computing device of a personal computer through a cable. The cable 66 can be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable, such as a micro-USB cable. After the blood glucose meter 12 is cabled to the computing device 20, communication is established. As with the computing device 20 of the mobile phone, information (e.g., blood glucose target range 42) is entered into the computing device. This information is transmitted to the glucose meter 12 by a cable 66. In some embodiments, the computing device 20 will download a standalone diabetes mobile application or device interface software that will support communication from the glucose meter 12 to the computing device and from the computing device to a network (e.g., a web server hosting the diabetes management system). In other embodiments, to support the specific purpose of entering and transmitting the target range 42 back to the glucose meter 12, after establishing communication with the computing device 20, the glucose meter 12 can then also load an application into the computing device. In some embodiments, the computing device can be configured with a blood glucose meter into a blood glucose measurement system.

Fig. 20 shows an electrical block diagram of a computing device, and also refers to fig. 18 and 19. The computing device 20 can be any computing device 20 having the ability to run the diabetes management application 64, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, and a notebook computer. The computing device 20 includes: a device housing 68; a device processor 70 having a device memory 72 carried inside the device housing 68; a device user interface 74 coupled to a button 76 carried inside the device housing 68; a device communication port 78 coupled to the device processor 70; a device display 80 coupled to the processor 70; and a target range field 82 on the device display 80 for entering the user target range 42, which is communicated from the device communication port 78 to the meter communication port 28 for use in programming the meter 12 with a user target range 42.

FIG. 21 illustrates a method for programming a blood glucose meter and performing blood glucose measurements. The method includes establishing communication 84, launching a diabetes application 86, entering a target range 88, transmitting a target range 90, calculating a target indicator range 92, calculating above an indicator range 94, calculating below an indicator range 96, storing an indicator range 98, inserting a test strip 100, applying a blood sample 102, calculating a blood glucose measurement 104, digitally displaying a blood glucose measurement 106, and graphically displaying a blood glucose measurement 108.

Communication is established between the blood glucose meter 12 and the computing device 20 using wireless communication (e.g., bluetooth low energy) or by using a cable 66 (e.g., a USB cable). The computing device 20 launches the diabetes management application 64 that provides an input field 82 for the user's blood glucose target range. The computing device 20 transmits this blood glucose target range 42 to the blood glucose meter 12. The glucose meter 12 has a low cost user interface, so the glucose meter 12 does not have a mechanism for inputting the target range 42 directly into the glucose meter 12. Once the glucose meter 12 receives the target range 42, the glucose meter 12 need not communicate any further with the computing device 20 to program the graphical indicator 36.

The plurality of indicators 36 have a range of individual indicators 36 calculated by the blood glucose meter 12, so the indicators 36 index the color blood glucose scale 32 in a manner that provides an accurate and simple way to read the graphical display of the user's blood glucose measurement. Indicator 36 is divided into a target range indicator 54, a higher than target range indicator 56, and a lower than target range indicator 58. In some embodiments, indicator 36 can further include a high indicator 60, a low indicator 62, or both to permit logarithmic scaling to provide better resolution for target range indicator 54, above target range indicator 56, and below target range indicator 58.

The target indicator range for each of the target range indicators 54 is calculated by subdividing the user target ranges 42 by the number of target range indicators 54. The above-target indicator range above each of the target range indicators 56 is calculated by subdividing the above-target range of users by an amount above the target range indicators 56. The below target indicator range for each of the below target range indicators 58 is calculated by subdividing the below target range for the user by the number of below target range indicators 58. This subdivision can be done in a linear or logarithmic manner. The indicator range is stored by the blood glucose meter 12 in the non-transitory memory 46.

The blood glucose measurement is performed by inserting the test strip 16 into the blood glucose meter 12, which also activates the meter 12. The user applies a blood sample to a collection area on the end of the strip 16 extending from the meter 12. The meter 12 performs an electrochemical or photometric analysis of the blood sample and calculates a blood glucose measurement.

In another embodiment, a blood glucose meter having a user interface has a programmable graphical indicator and includes the following. An instrument housing having a bar port. A meter processor having a meter memory carried inside the meter housing. A measurement module coupled to the bar port and connected to the meter processor. A meter display coupled to the processor. A color blood glucose scale that is static and positioned adjacent to a display, the color blood glucose scale comprising: a first color region indicating a target range of the user, a second color region indicating a higher range than the target range, and a third color region indicating a lower range than the target range. The display is capable of displaying a plurality of numbers that numerically display the blood glucose measurement. The display is further capable of displaying at least one indicator including a target range indicator displayed adjacent to a first color region of the colored blood glucose scale if the blood glucose measurement is within the user target range; or a higher-than-target-range indicator displayed adjacent to a second color region of the colored blood glucose scale if the blood glucose measurement is within the higher-than-target range; or a below-target range indicator displayed adjacent to a third color region of the color blood glucose scale if the blood glucose measurement is within the below-target range. Finally, an indicator scale module located in the non-transitory meter memory is characterized by: the indicator scale module calculates an indicator range for each of the target ranges based on the user input such that the target range is specific to the user, and displays at least one target range indicator adjacent to the color region based on the calculated indicator ranges.

Accordingly, embodiments of a blood glucose meter with a low cost user interface having a programmed graphical indicator are disclosed. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the teachings can be practiced with embodiments other than those disclosed. The disclosed embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.

Claims (21)

1. A blood glucose meter with a user interface having a programmed graphical indicator, the blood glucose meter comprising:

an instrument housing having a bar port carried by the instrument housing;

a meter processor having a meter memory carried inside the meter housing;

a measurement module coupled to the strip port and connected to the meter processor;

a meter communication port coupled to the meter processor;

a meter display coupled to the processor, the meter display comprising:

a color blood glucose scale that is static and carried by the meter housing, the color blood glucose scale comprising:

a first color region indicating a target range of the user,

indicating a second color region above the target range, and

indicating a third color region below the target range, an

A monochrome segmented display coupled to the processor;

a plurality of numbers on the monochrome segmented display that numerically display blood glucose measurements;

a plurality of indicators, comprising:

a target range indicator on the monochrome segmented display positioned adjacent to the first color region of the color glycemic scale;

a higher-than-target-range indicator on the monochrome segmented display positioned adjacent to the second color region of the color glycemic scale; and

a below target range indicator on the monochrome segmented display positioned adjacent to the third color region of the color glycemic scale; and

an indicator scale module located in a non-transitory meter memory and configured to calculate an indicator range for each of the plurality of indicators relative to a user target range, the user target range being specific to a user.

2. The blood glucose meter of claim 1, wherein the indicator scale module:

calculating the indicator range of the target range indicator by subdividing the user target range by the number of target range indicators;

calculating the indicator range of the above target range indicator by subdividing users above target range by the number of above target range indicators; and

calculating the indicator range of the below-target-range indicator by subdividing user below-target-range by the number of below-target-range indicators.

3. The blood glucose meter of claim 2, wherein the indicator range of the above target range indicator and the below target range indicator is logarithmically scaled.

4. The blood glucose meter of claim 1, further comprising:

a high range indicator on the monochrome segmented display located at a highest region of the second color region of the color glycemic scale having a predetermined high range; and

a low range indicator on the monochrome segmented display located at a lowest region of the third color region of the color glycemic scale having a predetermined low range.

5. The blood glucose meter of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of indicators are configured to flash at a predetermined flash frequency.

6. The glucose meter of claim 1, wherein the target range indicator is programmed to index the first color zone, the first color zone indicating the user target range from about 70 mg/dL to about 160 mg/dL, the above target range indicator is programmed to index the second color zone, the second color zone indicating the above target range from about 161 mg/dL to about 300 mg/dL, and the below target range indicator is programmed to index a third color zone indicating the below target range from about 10mg/dL to about 69 mg/dL.

7. The blood glucose meter of claim 6, wherein the above-target range indicator is programmed to index the second color zone, the second color zone indicating a high range from about 301 mg/dL to about 600 mg/dL, and the below-target range indicator is programmed to index the third color zone, the third color zone indicating a low range of less than about 10 mg/dL.

8. The glucose meter of claim 1, wherein the colored glucose scale is selected from one of a bar, a segmented bar, and a circle.

9. The blood glucose meter of claim 1, wherein the colored glucose scale is disposed on the meter housing adjacent to the meter display.

10. The blood glucose meter of claim 1, further comprising:

a single user interface button carried within the meter housing and connected to the meter processor.

11. The blood glucose meter of claim 10, wherein the single user interface button operates to perform a meter function selected from one of: activating the handheld glucose meter to display the most recent glucose measurement; shows the mean blood glucose; performing display testing and activating and deactivating wireless communication.

12. A blood glucose measurement system with a user interface having a programmed graphical indicator, the system comprising:

an instrument housing having a bar port carried by the instrument housing;

a meter processor having a meter memory carried by the meter housing;

a measurement module coupled to the strip port and connected to the meter processor;

a meter communication port coupled to the meter processor;

a meter display coupled to the processor, comprising:

a color glucose scale that is static and carried by the housing, the color glucose scale comprising:

a first color region indicating a target range of the user,

indicating a second color region above the target range, and

indicating a third color region below the target range, an

A monochrome segmented display coupled to the processor;

a plurality of numbers on the monochrome segmented display that numerically display blood glucose measurements;

a plurality of indicators, comprising:

a target range indicator on the monochrome segmented display positioned adjacent to the first color region of the color glycemic scale;

a higher-than-target-range indicator on the monochrome segmented display positioned adjacent to the second color region of the color glycemic scale; and

a below target range indicator on the monochrome segmented display positioned adjacent to the third color region of the color glycemic scale; and

an indicator scale module located in a non-transitory meter memory and configured to calculate an indicator range for each of the plurality of indicators relative to a user target range, the user target range being specific to a user;

a computing device, comprising:

a device housing;

a device processor having a device memory carried inside the device housing;

a device user interface coupled to a button carried inside the device housing;

a device communication port coupled to the device processor;

a device display coupled to the processor; and

a target range field on a device display for inputting a user target range, the user target range communicated from the device communication port to the meter communication port for programming the user target range into the blood glucose meter.

13. The blood glucose measurement system of claim 12, wherein the indicator scale module:

calculating the indicator range of the target range indicator by subdividing the user target range by the number of target range indicators;

calculating the indicator range of the above target range indicator by subdividing users above target range by the number of above target range indicators; and

calculating the indicator range of the below-target-range indicator by subdividing user below-target-range by the number of below-target-range indicators.

14. The blood glucose measurement system of claim 12, wherein the computing device is selected from one of: a mobile phone having a diabetes management application and wireless connectivity to the meter communication port; a tablet computer having the diabetes management application and wireless connectivity to the meter communication port; and a personal computer having wired connectivity to the meter communication port and connectivity to a network.

15. A method for programming a graphical indicator on a blood glucose meter having a user interface, the method comprising:

establishing communication between the blood glucose meter and a computing device;

launching a diabetes application on the computing device;

inputting a target range into the diabetes application on the computing device;

transmitting the target range from the computing device to a blood glucose meter;

calculating, by the blood glucose meter, a target range indicator range for each of the target range indicators by subdividing the user target range by the number of target range indicators;

calculating, by the blood glucose meter, a higher-than-target-range indicator range for each of the higher-than-target-range indicators by subdividing the user higher-than-target ranges by the number of higher-than-target-range indicators;

calculating, by the blood glucose meter, a below-target indicator range for each of the below-target range indicators by subdividing user below-target ranges by the number of below-target range indicators;

storing, by the blood glucose meter, indicator ranges into a non-transitory memory, the indicator ranges including the target indicator range for each of the target range indicators, the above indicator range for each of the above target range indicators, and the below indicator range for each of the below target range indicators;

inserting a test strip into a strip port of the handheld glucose meter to activate the glucose meter;

applying a blood sample to the test strip to perform a blood glucose measurement;

calculating, by the blood glucose meter, a blood glucose measurement;

displaying the blood glucose measurement digitally on the blood glucose meter; and

the blood glucose measurement is graphically displayed by indexing a colored blood glucose scale by one of a plurality of indicators.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

calculating, by the blood glucose meter, a high range indicator range by subdividing the user high range by a number of high range indicators; and

calculating, by the blood glucose meter, a low range indicator range by subdividing the user low range by the number of low range indicators.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the indicator blood glucose range of the above target range indicator and the below target range indicator is scaled logarithmically.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the colored glucose scale is selected from one of a bar, a segmented bar, and a circle.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein one of the plurality of indicators of the colored glucose scale indexing a graphical display is configured to flash at a predetermined flash frequency.

20. A blood glucose meter with a user interface having a programmed graphical indicator, the blood glucose meter comprising:

an instrument housing having a bar port;

a meter processor having a meter memory carried inside the meter housing;

a measurement module coupled to the strip port and connected to the meter processor;

a meter display coupled to the processor;

a color glucose scale that is static and positioned adjacent to the display, the color glucose scale comprising:

a first color region indicating a target range of the user,

indicating a second color region above the target range, and

a third color region below the target range is indicated,

wherein the display is configured to display:

a plurality of numbers that numerically display blood glucose measurements,

and at least one indicator, the at least one indicator comprising:

a target range indicator displayed adjacent to the first color region of a color blood glucose scale if the blood glucose measurement is within the user target range, or

A higher-than-target-range indicator displayed adjacent to the second color region of the color blood glucose scale if the blood glucose measurement is within the higher-than-target range, or

A below-target-range indicator displayed adjacent to the third color region of the colored glucose scale if the glucose measurement is within the below-target range, an

An indicator scale module located in a non-transitory meter memory, characterized by: the indicator scale module calculates an indicator range for each of the target ranges based on user input such that the target range is specific to a user, and displays the at least one target range indicator adjacent to a color region based on the calculated indicator range.

21. The blood glucose meter of claim 20, wherein the indicator scale module:

calculating the indicator range of the target range indicator by subdividing the user target range by the number of target range indicators;

calculating the indicator range of the above target range indicator by subdividing users above target range by the number of above target range indicators; and

calculating the indicator range of the below-target-range indicator by subdividing user below-target-range by the number of below-target-range indicators.