To alleviate these difficulties, scientists at IIT Madras have developed a new technology that will make life easier for diabetes patients. Patients can now test their sugar levels without needles and at a low cost.

Diabetes patients get a new device for sugar testing.

Diabetes has become a very common disease in India. Millions of people in India check their blood sugar levels daily to manage their health. However, the method used until now was to take a blood sample by pricking a finger with a needle. This was very painful and cumbersome. Sometimes, the test had to be done 3 to 4 times a day, which not only causes pain but also increases the cost. Now, to provide relief from all these problems, scientists from IIT Madras have developed a new technology that will make the lives of diabetes patients easier. Now, patients will be able to test their sugar without needles at a low cost. IIT Madras's new device will provide relief to diabetes patients.

Cheap, easy, and low-cost sugar test without needles

Researchers at the Electronic Materials and Thin Films Lab at IIT Madras, led by Professor Parasuraman Swaminathan, have developed a unique glucose monitoring device. This device is specifically designed for diabetes patients to monitor their blood sugar levels easily and inexpensively, without the need for needles.

How does this new device work?

Until now, two methods were commonly used: SMBG (Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose), which involves taking a blood sample by pricking a finger with a needle. CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitoring), which provides real-time readings without repeated needle injections, is expensive and can only be accessed through a mobile phone or a separate device.

The team at IIT Madras, meanwhile, has addressed these shortcomings and developed a novel solution. They have developed a modular system consisting of two components: a reusable electronic unit with a low-power display and a disposable microneedle sensor patch that is applied to the skin. This microneedle patch is very small and measures blood sugar levels directly under the skin. Its use is painless and requires no blood draw.

What is the purpose of this research?

This new technology will relieve diabetes patients of the hassle of repeated needle pricks and allow them to monitor their sugar levels more conveniently. L. Balamurugan, an MS (Entrepreneurship) scholar involved in the project, said that this device could prove to be a game-changer. It not only makes glucose monitoring easy but also confidential and affordable. Now, people will be able to test their sugar regularly at home, helping them understand their health and take timely action. In the long run, this will reduce diabetes-related emergencies and hospital visits. This will reduce the financial burden on families and allow patients to better manage their health.