New Glucose Meter Technology
New Glucose Meter Technology
Contact lenses, tattoos, infrared light, and smart sensors will detect your glucose level in the "ouchless" future.
Indeed, a refined version of that device is in clinical trials in Europe right now, says Deanne McLaughlin, of Medtronic Diabetes. Continuous glucose monitoring "has given patients a better understanding of the impact of their treatment, diet, and activity levels on their glucose levels," McLaughlin tells WebMD. Regarding the refined device, "we are very excited about 'real-time' readings and the potential ... for helping patients improve their blood sugar control."
Beyond that, "We're really still at the finger-sticking stage," Boden tells WebMD. "There are a zillion different machines to measure blood, and they have gotten better. The biggest advance is that the new types use much less blood. That means you don't have to stick your finger -- you can stick the underside of your arm, where it doesn't hurt. The pain sensors in your arm are very far apart, whereas they're very dense in your fingertip. That's made the biggest difference."
As for new meters in the development pipeline, the jury is still out. Here are a few that caught our attention.
Like the 1970s mood rings, your contact lenses could someday reflect your glucose level. With one glance in a mirror, you'll see whether you're headed for trouble.
This eye-opening innovation has been a 20-year-long project headed by Sanford Asher, PhD, professor of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "We're making great progress," Asher tells WebMD. "We expect to go to the FDA in another year. We're not sure how extensive clinical trials will need to be, given the experience with soft contact lenses."
Here's how it works: A thin plastic sensor is embedded in a typical soft contact lens; the type you replace weekly, explains Asher. The sensor detects the amount of glucose in the tears -- and changes color accordingly. On the eye, the sensor appears as a slim crescent of color in the lower area of the iris, below the pupil -- a hint of green (normal), blue (hypoglycemic - low blood sugar), or violet (very hypoglycemic). Other colors reflect high blood sugar levels, or hyperglycemia.
Asher's research group has performed "the definitive study confirming that tears can provide an accurate measurement of the body's glucose level," he tells WebMD. That was challenging, since tears resulting from any stressful trigger have a higher-than-normal amount of glucose. "If I make you cry, your tears are sweeter than normal," says Asher. His research group overcame the obstacle, developing their own innovative method to obtain sufficient normal tears for their study.
A Palm Pilot monitor or special mirror may be developed to help patients determine their exact glucose level. "No finger pricks are required," Asher tells WebMD. "In fact, this is more accurate than finger pricks because monitoring is continuous... the color keeps changing, letting you know if you're heading into hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia."
Glucose Meters: What's on the Horizon?
Contact lenses, tattoos, infrared light, and smart sensors will detect your glucose level in the "ouchless" future.
Indeed, a refined version of that device is in clinical trials in Europe right now, says Deanne McLaughlin, of Medtronic Diabetes. Continuous glucose monitoring "has given patients a better understanding of the impact of their treatment, diet, and activity levels on their glucose levels," McLaughlin tells WebMD. Regarding the refined device, "we are very excited about 'real-time' readings and the potential ... for helping patients improve their blood sugar control."
Beyond that, "We're really still at the finger-sticking stage," Boden tells WebMD. "There are a zillion different machines to measure blood, and they have gotten better. The biggest advance is that the new types use much less blood. That means you don't have to stick your finger -- you can stick the underside of your arm, where it doesn't hurt. The pain sensors in your arm are very far apart, whereas they're very dense in your fingertip. That's made the biggest difference."
As for new meters in the development pipeline, the jury is still out. Here are a few that caught our attention.
See It in Your Eyes
Like the 1970s mood rings, your contact lenses could someday reflect your glucose level. With one glance in a mirror, you'll see whether you're headed for trouble.
This eye-opening innovation has been a 20-year-long project headed by Sanford Asher, PhD, professor of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "We're making great progress," Asher tells WebMD. "We expect to go to the FDA in another year. We're not sure how extensive clinical trials will need to be, given the experience with soft contact lenses."
Here's how it works: A thin plastic sensor is embedded in a typical soft contact lens; the type you replace weekly, explains Asher. The sensor detects the amount of glucose in the tears -- and changes color accordingly. On the eye, the sensor appears as a slim crescent of color in the lower area of the iris, below the pupil -- a hint of green (normal), blue (hypoglycemic - low blood sugar), or violet (very hypoglycemic). Other colors reflect high blood sugar levels, or hyperglycemia.
Asher's research group has performed "the definitive study confirming that tears can provide an accurate measurement of the body's glucose level," he tells WebMD. That was challenging, since tears resulting from any stressful trigger have a higher-than-normal amount of glucose. "If I make you cry, your tears are sweeter than normal," says Asher. His research group overcame the obstacle, developing their own innovative method to obtain sufficient normal tears for their study.
A Palm Pilot monitor or special mirror may be developed to help patients determine their exact glucose level. "No finger pricks are required," Asher tells WebMD. "In fact, this is more accurate than finger pricks because monitoring is continuous... the color keeps changing, letting you know if you're heading into hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia."
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