New non-invasive device for diabetics to monitor blood sugar levels

Initial tests with volunteers achieved results that were 85 per cent as accurate as traditional, invasive blood analysis.

By: Agencies | | Updated: June 28, 2018 2:35 pm

Tags: Blood sugar levels Diabetes injection Insulin Insulin injections Insulin pen

Regular consumption of certain seeds can help you beat diabetes ©Shutterstock

Researchers have developed a small non-invasive device by combining radar and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that would help people with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar levels without the need for painful finger pricks several times a day. “We want to sense blood inside the body without actually having to sample any fluid,” said lead author George Shaker, professor at the University of Waterloo in Canada.

Related Stories

The system can detect changes in sugar levels using a small radar device which sends high-frequency radio waves into liquids containing various levels of glucose and receive radio waves that are reflected back to it.

Information on the reflected waves is then converted into digital data for analysis by machine-learning AI algorithms developed by the researchers. Read: Latest in insulin injections.

The software is capable of detecting glucose changes based on more than 500 wave features or characteristics, including how long it takes for them to bounce back to the device.

Initial tests with volunteers achieved results that were 85 per cent as accurate as traditional, invasive blood analysis.

“The correlation was actually amazing. We have shown it is possible to use radar to look into the blood to detect changes,” Shaker said, in the paper detailed in the International Journal of Mobile Human-Computer Interaction.

Next steps include refining the system to precisely quantify glucose levels and obtain results through the skin, which complicates the process.

Researchers are also working to shrink the radar device so that it is both low-cost and low-power.

The data analysed by AI algorithms is now sent wirelessly to computers, but the ultimate aim is self-contained technology similar to the smartwatches that monitor heart rate.

“Our hope is this can be realised as a smartwatch to monitor glucose continuously,” Shaker said.

“I’m hoping we’ll see a wearable device on the market within the next five years.”

Source: IANS

Image source: Shutterstock

Published : June 28, 2018 2:23 pm | Updated:June 28, 2018 2:35 pm

Read Disclaimer

Teens with concussion may benefit from earlier physical therapy (PT)

Teens with concussion may benefit from earlier physical therapy (PT)

Study: Midlife fitness may boost your heart health

Study: Midlife fitness may boost your heart health

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com

+91 – 22 – 6697 1234

91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

We respect your privacy

Copyright © 2020 Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved.