As a Diabetic (Type 2) one of the last things I want to do is always prick my finger to test my glucose levels. Fortunately, Amay Bandodkar, a grad student at the University of California, San Diego is now creating a temporary tattoo that allows diabetics to monitor these levels without the use of a needle.
This works by measuring glucose levels in the fluid that's located between the skin cells, which reflects the levels that are in your bloodstream. Many people feel that this type of a test would be much more fun and a lot less painful. There are precisely-patterned electrodes that are printed on temporary tattoo paper. You would then apply this to your skin.
A "very mild" electrical current must also be applied to your skin. Sodium ions in your skin's fluid migrates towards these electrodes. There are glucose molecules in those ions. A sensor that's built into the tattoo measures the electrical charge that's produced by the glucose thus being able to determine the glucose levels that are in your bloodstream. This is just as accurate as the traditional needle testing.
Right now there's no numerical readout. However, a separate device is being developed for this. The team is also working to make more durable tattoos so that they'll last for longer than a day. Fortunately, these are very inexpensive.
In all honesty, I'm glad that this day is coming. I look forward to using these instead of pricking my finger. What are your thoughts about them?
this is good to know. when i was pregnant with my last child i was diagnose with gestational diabetes and i hated pricking my finger
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