Non-invasive continuous blood glucose measurement methods for diabetics, do they work?

Controlling blood glucose levels is the main objective when it comes to face diabetes avoiding peaks glucose and recurring hypoglycemia. Traditionally the method is to draw blood (either in a laboratory or with a small domestic device) that is then analyzed for glycemia. This method has traditionally invasive now some alternatives continuous glucose measuring noninvasive blood. These options, do they work? Do they offer advantages?

From the traditional method to non-invasive alternatives

The traditional method in an institution, while we are hospitalized, consists of a blood which was subsequently analyzed. At home, this extraction is replaced by a small puncture in the finger that allows to get a few drops of blood to place on test strips that point us with the help of a home device blood glucose levels.

With this method, which is of course invasive who should use it, it is impossible to make a continuous measurement of glucose available to prevent hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, because with this tool “corrections” are made and when we perform the measurement, hyperglycemia is already present Or hypoglycemia.

With non – invasive alternatives, i.e. that do not involve a puncture user measurement is very different, as well as allowing continuous monitoring to help prevent sudden changes in blood glucose levels, diabetic no longer feel greater discomfort or must make a A procedure that, although it takes little time, takes a few minutes to complete the measurement.

New methods of measuring glucose

Since almost a decade ago to try to find methods of measuring glucose less invasive and continuous blood glucose alterations that can prevent and not only serve to reverse or “correct”.

Today in the market, we find transdermal devices for continuous measurement of glucose as presented in the following video:

This Echo Therapeutics monitor has no needle and attaches to the body through a transdermal sensor that has glucose oxidase. Thus, periodically calibrating a is achieved continuous glucose measurement without changing needles, puncturing and analyzing every so often .

The data we receive in a device as can be our mobile and graphically we can know the times of the day in which the glucose rises as well as receive alerts if the values are rising or falling more than desired. All this is possible with the specific application of the monitor.

This monitor continuous non – invasive glucose measurement was evaluated and compared with the traditional method including blood draws and laboratory analysis in hospitalized patients and concluded that the monitor is accurate and secure, since no adverse effects occurred. However, it has not yet been determined whether its use can replace the traditional method in sanitary institutions.

Other non-invasive methods

Similar methods used early thermal emission spectroscopy for measuring glucose non-invasively, for example, placing a monitor on the tympanic membrane. Prototypes of such monitors showed effectiveness and accuracy in the data that shed, but require daily individual calibration.

Other prototypes are laser monitors that measure blood glucose using a glass device in contact with the skin receives the laser signal and varies the fluorescence of the same allowing estimate the values of blood glucose.

In the market there are non – invasive glucose monitors that we can use as many times as we want without having to pierce the skin and draw blood, then use radio waves of high frequency to obtain blood glucose levels easily.

With these options, who have diabetes do not have to make frequent punctures in your fingers or extractions invasive blood, but can continuously or very frequently monitor their blood sugar painlessly and at lower cost, since it will not require a needle and a test strip Each time you perform the measurement.

Diabetic alert dogs

An original alternative that does not perform continuous measurement of glucose but that it helps prevent own consequences of abrupt changes of glucose in blood non-invasively is the use of diabetic alert dogs.

The dogs are trained to detect the smell chemical changes in the body of its owner and so alert in case of potential hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic. Above all, this tool is used in children to accompany the pet at all times to its owner and will generate this independence it needs without greater risks because of diabetes .

The dog is trained for a single person and contributes to non-parents who must accompany the child at all times to act in time in case of alterations of blood glucose.

No doubt the new technologies and tools available to those suffering from diabetes allow a better quality of life and above all an action before suffering own ups or sudden drops in serious consequences glucose in blood.

Everything that would in the absence of pain more frequent or continuous glucose monitoring and above all, prevent hypo- and hyperglycemia are always welcome for better treatment of diabetes and its consequences.