People with diabetes can improve their general health and self-care management by using simple tools to uncover links between lifestyle and blood glucose levels.

INDIANAPOLIS, May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche, the maker of ACCU-CHEK(R) blood glucose monitoring systems and insulin pumps, announced today the availability of two new tools that can help patients pinpoint food and lifestyle choices that have the biggest impact on their blood glucose levels, giving them greater control in their everyday battles against diabetes.

As the world leader in diabetes diagnostics, Roche is rolling out the ACCU-CHEK Testing in Pairs and ACCU-CHEK 360-degree View tools as a way to help adults, children and teens manage their diabetes more easily and more effectively. The initiative is part of Roche's Behavior Change through Patient Engagement (sm) program.

"Diabetes is a 24/7 disease that doesn't give patients a day off," said Dan Kane, vice president of marketing for Roche Diabetes Care North America. "It's relentless, and we understand how difficult it can be to stay motivated, especially when it's not clear what affects blood sugar levels or why the numbers on a patient's meter rise and fall like they do. These simple tools bring clarity to the meaning of those numbers and, more importantly, help patients better understand what influences their results -- and what they can do to improve them."

The ACCU-CHEK Testing in Pairs tool is a simple paper-based way to track blood sugar responses to everyday situations like stress, exercise and eating out. By comparing before-and-after readings around single events for seven days, patients can zero in on one thing that makes a difference for them, instead of trying to change everything at once.

The ACCU-CHEK 360-degree View tool is a paper chart that offers a seven-point profile of blood glucose control. In just three days, it gives a more complete picture of the effectiveness of prescriptions, as well as how food portions affect blood glucose and energy levels. Discovering these patterns may help patients and their healthcare providers quickly see if adjustments are needed.

"By tracking results over time, patients see how balanced meals and medication--even changes brought about by these simple tools--alter blood sugar levels," Kane said. "The initiative not only helps people understand their numbers better, it allows them to take a greater role in developing effective plans with their healthcare providers for more successful outcomes."

For a free download and more information, please visit accu-chek.com/testinginpairs and accu-chek.com/success.

About Roche Diabetes Care

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, Roche has been committed to helping people with diabetes live lives that are as normal and active as possible and has been helping healthcare professionals manage their patients' condition in an optimal way. Today, the ACCU-CHEK portfolio offers people with diabetes and healthcare professionals innovative products, services and comprehensive solutions for convenient, efficient and effective diabetes management--from blood glucose monitoring through information management to insulin delivery. The ACCU-CHEK brand encompasses blood glucose meters, infusion pumps, lancing and data management systems.

For more information, please visit accu-chek.com.

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world's largest biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and CNS. Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche's personalized healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients.

In 2008, Roche had over 80,000 employees worldwide and invested almost 9 billion Swiss francs in R & D. The Group posted sales of 45.6 billion Swiss francs. Genentech (United States) is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical (Japan). For more information, visit www.roche-diagnostics.us.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.

    For further information, please contact:
    Julie Vincent
    Public Relations Manager
    ACCU-CHEK Brand
    julie.vincent@roche.com
    317-521-1910

SOURCE Roche Diagnostics, Inc.

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