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The strangest accessory associated with the Nintendo DSi era was not actually compatible with the DSi. Bayer’s DIDGET Blood Glucose Monitoring System was a medical glucose meter for the earlier Nintendo DS and DS Lite. It connected through the handheld’s Game Boy Advance slot and rewarded regular blood-glucose testing with points in the bundled Knock ’Em Downs: World’s Fair. The result was an unusually literal blend of regulated medical hardware and game design: the meter worked on its own, while the Nintendo connection transferred reward data and unlocked game content.
What was the weirdest Nintendo DSi accessory?
DIDGET is the strongest candidate because it turned a blood-glucose meter into a game-linked accessory. Bayer introduced the U.S. system on April 26, 2010, describing it as a CONTOUR-based meter that connected directly to Nintendo DS and DS Lite systems. Its suggested retail value was $74.99 at launch.
The important correction is that DIDGET was not a Nintendo DSi accessory. Nintendo removed the Game Boy Advance Game Pak slot from the DSi and DSi XL to make those consoles slimmer. Because DIDGET depended on that slot, it belonged to the preceding DS generation even though it is often remembered in discussions of unusual DSi-era hardware.
How did the DIDGET meter turn testing into a game?
The meter could perform a glucose test without a Nintendo handheld. The DS connection added the motivational layer: testing consistently and meeting personalized glucose targets generated points that could unlock content and customize the player’s experience in Knock ’Em Downs: World’s Fair.
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What came in the package?
- A DIDGET blood-glucose meter based on Bayer’s CONTOUR system.
- A Nintendo DS-compatible connection for transferring reward information.
- Knock ’Em Downs: World’s Fair, with an adventure mode and a mini-game arcade.
Who was the device intended for?
FDA documentation described DIDGET for glucose self-testing by people with diabetes aged four and older, with adult supervision when needed. It was not intended to diagnose diabetes or screen people for the condition. That distinction matters: the Nintendo software was a reward system, not a medical decision tool.
What were its headline specifications?
| Specification | Documented figure or limitation |
|---|---|
| U.S. introduction | April 26, 2010 |
| Suggested retail value | $74.99 at launch |
| Test time | Five seconds |
| Blood sample | 0.6 mL |
| Handheld compatibility | Nintendo DS and DS Lite; not Nintendo DSi or DSi XL |
Why does DIDGET not work with the Nintendo DSi?
The DSi removed the Game Boy Advance Game Pak slot found on the original DS and DS Lite. Accessories that physically occupied that slot therefore lost compatibility, regardless of whether their software could otherwise run on a DSi.
This is the same hardware limitation that affects the Guitar Hero: On Tour Guitar Grip. The grip uses four fret buttons and a pick-shaped stylus to turn the handheld into a miniature guitar controller, but its slot-based design prevents it from working on DSi models.
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How does DIDGET compare with other unusual Nintendo DS accessories?
DIDGET is the oddest because its core purpose was medical rather than entertainment. Other accessories were unconventional in different ways, but they were designed primarily as game peripherals or carrying hardware.
| Accessory | Why it stood out | Compatibility or limitation |
|---|---|---|
| DIDGET | A glucose meter became a reward device for a game. | DS/DS Lite only; requires the GBA slot. |
| Pokéwalker | A stand-alone pedometer with a screen that used infrared transfer, Pokémon capture and item-finding. | Packaged for Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver, so it was tied to those games. |
| Guitar Hero: On Tour Guitar Grip | Four fret buttons and a pick stylus created a handheld guitar interface. | Requires the GBA slot and therefore does not work on DSi. |
| HORI Custom Pouch DSi | A multi-pocket licensed pouch that could be configured as a shoulder- or waist-bag-style carrier. | Designed for DSi hardware; it was a practical carrying accessory rather than a game peripheral. |
What was the Pokéwalker, and which games used it?
The Pokéwalker was a separate pedometer bundled with Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver. Its small display and infrared connection let players transfer a Pokémon, walk to earn in-game benefits, capture Pokémon and find items away from the DS.
Nintendo’s European release information placed HeartGold and SoulSilver on sale on March 26, 2010, with the Pokéwalker included. Unlike DIDGET, it had no medical role; its unusualness came from making a game’s companion device function independently during everyday walking.
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Can an old DIDGET meter be used today?
Its historical design does not establish that a second-hand meter, expired strips or other consumables are safe or suitable for present-day medical use. Current availability, calibration and regulatory status were not established here. Anyone managing diabetes should use a currently supported system recommended by a qualified clinician and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for supplies and disposal.
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DIDGET illustrates how Nintendo’s cartridge-era hardware invited experiments that would be impossible on a slimmer, slot-free DSi. It combined a five-second medical test with a points economy, a licensed game and personalized targets—an unusually direct attempt to make routine health behavior feel like progression in a game.
That combination also explains the historical confusion. Search results and retrospectives often group it with DSi accessories because it appeared during the DSi period, but the connector tells the accurate story: DIDGET was a DS/DS Lite accessory, not a DSi peripheral.
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- Application Scenes. 1. USB data cable compatible for Bayer glucose meters Contour Plus, Breeze 2, Contour, Contour TS, Contour next EZ and Didget, from which you can download data to keep tracking on glycemic indices and blood sugar. 2. It can not charge your meter. 3. Also compatible for Contour next EZ, but not for Contour next.
- Adapter Cable. Built with intelligent chip, USB A male to serial cable to connect PC/laptop and glucose meters. Support hot-plug. Made by Washinglee
- APP Supported. 1. Compatible for a serial of Software of Diabetes Data Management, for Bayer's GLUCOFACTS and Glucofacts Deluxe software. 2. For other online data management software (Diasend or Carelink) on Mac OS 9, Mac OS 8, Mac OS 10.11.6, Mac OS X.
- Driver and OS Supported. Driver Should Be Installed. Compatible for Windows/Mac OS/Linux/ Android, Win2000/XP/98/Vista/7/8/10/11, Windows ME.NET(4.2 or greater). DO NOT use the driver from Bayer, which can not work with this cable. Please install the driver provided by us.
- How to save your time and your money. 1. Before placing order, please read this product page carefully for detail information. 2. Before installing and using this cable, please read the user manual carefully. 3. Please don't forget that we provide technical support and 1 year warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Nintendo sell the DIDGET meter under its own brand?
No. Bayer Diabetes Care announced and marketed the system; Nintendo DS hardware provided the connection and the game platform. The meter was a third-party medical product designed to work with those handhelds.
Did DIDGET require the game cartridge to check blood sugar?
No. The meter could be used independently for testing. The handheld connection was for transferring reward information and interacting with the bundled game.
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Could the DSi run the DIDGET game without the meter?
The documented DIDGET system depended on DS/DS Lite hardware and its Game Boy Advance slot. A DSi therefore could not provide the original accessory connection, even if unrelated DSi software features were available.
Was the Pokéwalker sold separately from Pokémon games?
It was packaged with Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver in the documented European release. Its functions were built around those games rather than being a general-purpose Nintendo pedometer.
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