Handheld personal data assistant (PDA) with a medical device and method of using the same

A remote programmer for interfacing with at least one medical device, the remote programmer comprising:

• at least one medical device module operatively coupled with the remote programmer and including at least one medical device interface including a sensor receiver for interfacing with and receiving sensor data signals at a predetermined rate from a characteristic sensor, wherein the sensor data signals monitor a characteristic of a user over a period of time, wherein the sensor data signals are received by the sensor receiver near continuously;
• at least one processor to interface with the remote programmer and coupled to the at least one medical device interface to process the sensor data signals;
• a housing adapted to contain the medical device module and the at least one processor;
• a characteristic meter within the housing for receiving and testing a discrete sample of an analyte to determine the quantity of the analyte independently of the characteristic sensor, wherein the processor is coupled to the sensor receiver and the characteristic meter to process the determined quantity of the analyte from the characteristic meter and the sensor data signals from the characteristic sensor;
• at least one input/output port for communicating with the characteristic sensor;
• at least one display including at least one touch screen element to interface with at least one of the at least one processor and the characteristic sensor;
• at least one button to interface with at least one of the at least one processor and the characteristic sensor;
• at least one audio indication device coupled to the at least one processor to provide an audio indication;
• and
• at least one portable power supply contained within the housing of the remote programmer to provide power to at least one of the at least one processor.