FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Home Diagnostics Inc. and Cellnovo, a London-based medical device company, have entered a technology integration and distribution alliance for their diabetes management products.

The companies said the first phase of the agreement calls for the inclusion of Home Diagnostics’ TRUE blood glucose technology in Cellnovo’s wireless touchscreen insulin patch pump. They will also begin exploring ways to leverage Home Diagnostics’ distribution network to expand Cellnovo’s presence in the United States and other countries.

The Home Diagnostics blood glucose unit will operate as a built-in meter in the Cellnovo wireless mobile handset, enabling patients to monitor their blood sugar using touchscreen controls and TRUEresult and TRUEtest test strips. The glucose readings will be automatically stored and can be sent wirelessly to doctors, clinicians and family members.

"Our agreement with Cellnovo allows us to leverage the emerging opportunities in the insulin pump market through the most innovative pump system in the industry," Joseph Capper, president of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Home Diagnostics, said in a statement. "We look forward to helping Cellnovo bring the convenience, ease-of-use and wireless capabilities of their visionary product to diabetes patients throughout the U.S. and beyond."

Available in three models, the Cellnovo mobile handset is the industry’s smallest insulin patch pump and the first to offer wireless, touchscreen operation, according to the companies. With the integration of the Home Diagnostics blood glucose meter, they said, patients can monitor their glucose levels using the same handset that records their insulin use, daily meals and activity levels, making diabetes management easier and more accurate.

"We are extremely excited about our partnership with Home Diagnostics," stated Bill McKeon, Cellnovo’s chief executive officer. "On a technical level, it will provide our customers with the most advanced blood glucose monitoring technology available today within our mobile handset. From a business perspective, it provides an extensive distribution network that includes 45,000 points of distribution, leading insurance companies and major product order suppliers."