Huntsville Hospital

Dustin Gomez

With technologies in diabetes space evolving every day, the daily round of pricking finger to monitor the blood glucose levels has finally come to a halt.

FREMONT, CA: Diabetes affects over 425 million people worldwide. People with diabetes have to test their blood sugar several times a day, usually by pricking their finger with a lancet. It can be uncomfortable and painful for many, resulting in less frequent testing and, consequently, more inadequate control of blood sugar levels. To overcome this problem, many companies are looking for needle-free alternatives that make the lives of millions of people with diabetes easier. Most of them are already available, while others are still in development.

GlucoWise

GlucoWise is another sensor under development that can measure glucose levels by placing it on the skin or earlobe between the thumb and forefinger. The measurements can then be sent directly to a smartphone app in real-time. By utilizing radio waves to measure glucose levels, the developers believe the device should be more accurate than other wireless glucose monitors.

Freestyle Libre

It is used in different parts of the world. The FreeStyle Libre has a small sensor patch placed on the arm and can be worn for up to 14 days. It patches and measures the glucose levels in the interstitial fluid between the cells right under the skin. Eventhough, the measurements are not as accurate as using a blood test, the device permits the patients to continuously and wirelessly monitor their glucose levels, either using a reading device or downloading an app on their phones.

Eversense

Eversense is a subcutaneous implant that lasts for up to 3 months. Eversense device can measure the glucose in the interstitial fluid under the arm's skin by using a polymer that fluoresces in response to glucose levels. The information thus obtained can be sent to a transmitter that displays glucose levels in real-time.

NovioSense

NovioSense works on a glucose sensor placed under the lower eyelid, from where it can send glucose measurements directly to a smartphone in real-time wirelessly. NoivioSense comprises of a flexible metal coil of 2cm in length that has nano-sensors inside. 

The coil can measure minute-to-minute transformation in the glucose levels of tear fluid by using the same enzyme technology on which conventional glucose strip tests are based.

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