Cardiff University Microwave Device to Help Diabetics

Portable Blood Glucose Measure for Diabetic

Diabetic patients now have the benefit of the microwave device which tends to help them in testing their blood to check their blood glucose level whenever they need to. Portable blood glucose measure for diabetic has been created by scientists that tend to use microwaves rather than pricking the skin, a painful process, though it may seem like a simple prick. Presently, diabetics need to test their blood many times a day or use inserted devices such as continuous blood glucose monitors – CGMs.

However a new monitor developed by Cardiff University’s School of engineering is subtly stuck on to the skin. Prof Adrian Porch has said that it will help with the management of the condition. He also adds that the conventional methods of monitoring blood glucose need the extraction of the blood and the device is non-invasive.

It does not need the extraction of blood apart from the initial calibration. Dr Heungjae Choi of Cardiff University demonstrated how the device can be worn. Prof Porch stated that the monitor established with Dr Heungjae Choi can be stuck on the arm or side of the body utilising an adhesive. Moreover, it also has a longer shelf-life since it is not chemical in its action. The data that is collected can be monitored constantly on a computer or a mobile app.

Sticking Microwave Emitter to Body

Though the notion of sticking a microwave emitter to someone’s body would sound alarming, Prof Porch said that is seems to be completely safe. He further added that it tends to use microwaves but the levels are very low. Thinking about a mobile phone, we are about a thousand times less than that level.

Prof Stephen Luzio of Swansea University’s College of Medicine seems to carry out clinical research in diabetes and had supervised trials of around 50 patients utilising the device, with plans this summer. He comments that patients are very keen on this device and one of the big problems with patients measuring their glucose is that they dislike pricking their finger and hence there is a lot of interest in the same.

People who are diabetic tend to have higher than normal blood sugar levels. There are about 3.5 million people who have been diagnosed with diabetes in the UK with an estimated 549,000 more who seem to have the ailment, though do not know about it.

Product Five Years from Reaching Markets

The 10% who tend to have Type 1 diabetes need to monitor their blood glucose level on a regular basis, around six times a day or 20,000 times over a decade. Diabetes monitor project of Cardiff Universityhad begun in 2008 and since then has received £1m in finance from health improvement charity, Wellcome Trust.

The team have said that the product is possibly five years away from reaching the markets subject to further investment. The device would be of great help for those diabetic patients while monitoring their blood sugar level which needs to be done on a regular basis to keep control on their sugar levels with timely treatment.