Select a region
Treatment of diabetes might be on the verge of being revolutionised after researchers developed a wearable patch which monitors blood sugar levels.
Using human sweat as a guide, the graphene-based patch can painlessly deliver drugs if it senses levels are becoming imbalanced.
It has been developed by scientists in South Korea and injects insulin using a series of micro-needles.
Insulin is the hormone produced by the pancreas that stops the body’s blood sugar levels from becoming excessive.
Diabetes sufferers are blighted by a lack of insulin in their body, meaning blood sugar, or glucose, can rocket to dangerous heights.
With more than 3.5 million people diagnosed with the incurable condition in the UK, this patch could be a reprieve from otherwise painful and invasive treatments.
It can be linked to a smartphone or a computer for wireless monitoring. It is hoped this will help medical professionals track the effectiveness of treatment more accurately.
It takes an average of 15 minutes for a measurement to be made. The ground-breaking device also monitors pH and temperature to stop the glucose sensor from being sent haywire by other factors.
Kim Dae-Hyeong, from the Centre of Nonparticle Research at South Korea’s Institute for Basic Science, said: “Our wearable graphene-based device is capable of not only sweat-based glucose and pH monitoring but also controlled transcutaneous drug delivery through temperature-responsive microneedles.
“Precise measurement of sweat glucose concentrations are used to estimate the levels of glucose in the blood of a patient. The device retains its original sensitivity after multiple uses, thereby allowing for multiple treatments.
“The connection of the device to a portable/wireless power supply and data transmission unit enables the point-of-care treatment of diabetes.”
