Swedish scientists at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm have developed a tiny system made of a skin patch containing microneedles to monitor blood glucose. The researchers said they successfully tested a prototype of the new patch targeting diabetes patients, and that the preparations for clinical tests are ongoing.
The KTH researchers said that the patch monitors blood glucose level constantly, which makes it a great alternative for the currently used devices considered uncomfortable, since they require a minimum 7mm needle that's inserted into the skin, or they take measurements in the fat tissue – not the most ideal location.
They also noted that the microneedles contained in the patch are 50 times smaller than the traditional needles. The combination of the patch with enzymatic sensor allows tracking blood glucose levels over time, with a delay of about 10 minutes, when applied to a human subject's forearm.
