A group of international researchers have created a non-invasive way of monitoring and managing diabetes. With a wearable patch, your blood sugar levels could be detected and medicine could be administered afterwards.
Popular Science reports on a wearable dual patch that monitors blood sugar levels via sweat and releases the diabetes drug metformin through micro needles. This revolutionary technology was created by a group of international researchers led by Dae-Heyong Kim from South Korea's Seoul National University.
Graphene-based patch can help monitor blood sugar levels https://t.co/x3xWyAVdl2 pic.twitter.com/jLJSkZCocr
— Engadget (@engadget) March 22, 2016
As wearable devices go, the thin, flexible patch is also made up of grapheme, a strong and very thin material composed of carbon atoms. The technology was improved with the use of gold particles to better detect blood sugar levels. The sensors of the patch will detect PH levels from the sweat and temperature changes. The device was tested on two humans and results were found to deliver accurate results.
Once high levels of blood sugar are detected, the device will release metformin to regulate the sugar level. According to Philly.com, the medication administered by the device has decreased blood sugar level from 400 milligrams per decilitre to 120 milligrams per decilitre.
The results are also sent wirelessly to a mobile device. The researchers said that the device could be used for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Later on, they could experiment on other anti-diabetic drug and could increase the dosage.
According to Philly.com, the current method of getting blood sugar levels can be both invasive and painful. Richard Guy, professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, explained the two methods as written in the editorial that was also published alongside the study.
The common method requires a drop of blood to measure blood sugar levels. A prick on a patient's finger is usually enough. While the other method is quite invasive with a sensor placed underneath the skin for constant monitoring.
Prior to this, there was already a device called GlucoWatch that works similarly to the dual patch. But the device was never successful in the market and was later pulled out.
The study was supported by the Institute for Basic Science in Seoul, South Korea. Their findings were published online on March 21 in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. To know more about diabetes, check out the video below:
