At Cardiff University in Wales, UK, researchers have developed a blood glucose sensor that doesn’t need to sample blood directly every time it performs a measurement. This may mean that the days of lancing fingers to get a drop of blood are close to an end, given that the technology proves itself and gains regulatory approvals.
How the technology works is not really clear. But what we know is that the device sends out microwaves and evaluates the returning signal. The microwaves are actually quite weak, produced at energy levels considerably lower than the radio waves a typical cellphone emits. The device does require the drawing of blood to initially calibrate it for each user, but following that it simply sticks to the skin and every once in a while performs a test.
Fifty patients have already participated in an initial assessment of the device, with more trials expected to begin in the coming months.
This is certainly exciting for the field of diabetes, as pin pricks are probably the #1 cause of patients not performing regular blood glucose testing.
Via: Cardiff University…