It's a significant development because glucose tracking traditionally relies on invasive measures, such as pricking a finger to draw blood or sensors under the skin, which then require additional kit to provide a reading. There are some devices that can monitor glucose non-invasively through sweat, but a recurring problem for these has been too much sweat rendering the kit unusable. Preventing hypoglycaemia during exercise, then, has been a big challenge, but the new patch could represent an effective and inexpensive means of overall diabetes management which, according to the researchers, "holds considerable promise."
A non-invasive, self-powered patch that monitors glucose levels during exercise has been developed by researchers at the State University of New York. The device is a small piece of conductive material placed on the skin and can be used to monitor blood sugar levels. The new patch could be an effective and cheap way for people to manage their diabetes.