New ways of monitoring glucose range from lasers to tears

Poking your finger every day may soon become a thing of the past for diabetics as there are a number of devices that can monitor your blood glucose levels continuously with just one prick, or even none at all. — TNS

I am not diabetic, but I have been told that I am overweight. This year, during a check-up, my blood sugar was borderline high. This got me worried. Although the doctor assured me I am not yet diabetic, he put me on 24-hour monitoring anyway. He gave me this patch on my skin, which does this. How do these work?

Ah, the wonders of new technology!

You do not even have to prick your finger to test your blood with these continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) methods.

CGM works through a tiny sensor inserted painlessly under your skin, usually on your belly or arm.

The newer ones don’t even have to penetrate your skin.

Some of them are metal patches that can monitor your glucose levels just by being taped and strapped to your skin.

The sensor measures your interstitial glucose level, which is the glucose found in the fluid between your cells.

The sensor tests the glucose every few minutes.

A transmitter then wirelessly sends the information to a monitor or an app installed in your smartphone.

The information is uploaded to a data “cloud”, where it can be accessed and monitored in real time by your doctor.

Oh, I did not know it was so advanced!

Glucose monitoring is indeed very advanced these days.

There is one shoebox-sized blood glucose monitor that beams an infrared laser through the skin of your finger.

This causes the glucose in your skin to convert the light to heat.

The machine then calculates your glucose levels based on how much heat is generated by your skin.

Don’t worry, you won’t even feel this laser’s heat, or the increase in your skin temperature, as it is so minute.

Then there is a subcutaneous implant that continuously monitors your blood glucose levels.

It needs to be installed under the skin by a doctor.

This is one of those devices that monitor the interstitial fluid under the skin of your upper arm.

It does so by using a polymer that fluoresces in response to your blood glucose level.

The data is sent to a transmitter that displays those levels in real time.

The sensor can last for up to three months before needing a replacement.

I am more interested in those methods that don’t involve pricking or implants. I have a very conscious fear of things being under my skin. Are there any other devices that don’t involve this?

There are definitely other types of CGM devices that don’t require pricking or an implant.

One such device monitors your blood glucose levels through a combination of ultrasonic, electromagnetic and thermal waves.

To provide a readout, the sensor is clipped onto your ear.

The second generation of this device consists of a wireless earclip sensor, which can be paired with your smartphone.

Another really new device on the market consists of a sensor that can measure your blood glucose levels just by placing it on the skin between your thumb and forefinger.

Once again, the real-time measurements can be sent directly to a smartphone app.

This device is supposed to be more accurate as it uses a specific frequency of radio waves to measure blood glucose levels.

One of the most popular CGM devices is one that automatically tracks your glucose levels day and night using a small sensor worn on the back of your upper arm.

An app on your smartphone lets you view your glucose levels at any time.

You can then measure what your glucose level is at any time of the day when you are doing something, e.g. exercising, sleeping or eating a particularly heavy meal.

This can be very helpful in adjusting your medication dosage to suit your lifestyle.

Are there any other ways of measuring blood glucose aside from using the skin?

There are some devices in development that measure the sugar in your tears – yes, you read that right, the tears from your eyes!

One startup working on a blood sugar monitor that is placed under your lower eyelid.

It consists of a flexible metal coil of about 2cm with nanosensors inside.

The coil is covered by a protective layer of soft hydrogel.

This coil can measure minute- to-minute changes in the glucose levels of your tear fluid by using the same enzyme technology that conventional glucose strip tests use.

It will then wirelessly send the glucose measurements directly to your smartphone.

Another device works on the scientific basis that the eyeball is a transparent and stable environment whose glucose levels correlate with those of the blood.

It sends a faint beam of light into your eyeball and measures the light that bounces back into the device.

The glucose levels in the eye are inferred based on the refraction of the returning light.

While there may seem to be many choices, not all might be available in Malaysia, so it is best to discuss with your doctor what devices are available here and which option might be the best for you.

Dr YLM graduated as a medical doctor, and has been writing for many years on various subjects such as medicine, health, computers and entertainment. For further information, email [e-mail]. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Neither The Star nor the author gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star and the author disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.