Despite its attraction, diabetes glucose monitoring remains a tough field for newcomers, who face competition from four major-league, entrenched players. But two of the newer entrants appear to be succeeding--not because of revolutionary technology, but because of partnering savvy, efficient execution, and technological competence. Analysts expect Inverness Medical's symbiotic relationship with LifeScan to help Inverness's diabetes sales grow 30% a year as LifeScan pushes Inverness-made products as a major part of its fight to regain its market leadership. Home Diagnostics Inc.'s success with co-branding raises the prospect that discounting, until now not a significant factor, will become much more common in the field.