While doctors are trying to rid patients of diabetes, Google is attempting to make checking glucose levels a little easier for diabetics. The old finger prick method may be a thing of the past in the next few years.
Google has announced that the are working on an electronic contact lenses that will monitor the glucose levels of diabetic patients.
The lenses use a minuscule glucose sensor and a wireless transmitter to help those who are among the world’s 382 million diabetics who need insulin keep a close watch on their blood sugar and adjust their dose.
Google isn’t the first to gave this technology a try. Microsoft attempted this same project in 2011. The project’s co-founder Babak Parviz, leads Google Glass and previously worked on the contact-lens idea while at the University of Washington with Microsoft. “People were not convinced that this was doable. Many people considered it science fiction,” Parviz said in the Microsoft video. But Desney Tan of Microsoft Research had faith. “Desney and Microsoft Research were early on convinced that this was a worthy cause. They were willing to work with and support us. We’re very grateful they did that.”
Because all the body fluids of diabetics can trace amounts of sugar in them, the usage of a pair of contact lenses to gauge the glucose levels would be appropriate, according to researchers. The microchips and sensors as well as LEDs implanted within the thin material of the contact lenses will alert the wearer as to his or her blood glucose levels are too high or too low.
Google’s glucose-sensing lens has been tested in people in a trial carried out in the Bay Area. The company’s blog post says that talks are underway with U.S. regulators:
“We’ve completed multiple clinical research studies which are helping to refine our prototype … We’re in discussions with the FDA, but there’s still a lot more work to do to turn this technology into a system that people can use.”
American Diabetes Association board chairman Dwight Holing said he was pleased that creative scientists were searching for solutions for people with diabetes but warned that the device must provide accurate and timely information.”People with diabetes base very important health care decisions on the data we get from our monitors,” he said.
Google says it will take at least five years to complete before it hits the market. Would you wear an electronic contact that measures your glucose level?
