Patients with diabetes face not only numerous complications but also the need to regularly monitor their blood sugar levels. This usually involves frequent finger pricks to collect blood samples or the use of special sensors that must be replaced every few weeks. For those who are afraid of needles, this process can be especially unpleasant.

A New Needle-Free Way to Measure Blood Sugar

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have proposed a more convenient solution—a technology that allows blood glucose levels to be determined using near-infrared light. This light scans the skin tissue and accurately measures sugar concentration, completely eliminating the need for needles.

The developed non-invasive system is based on Raman microscopy. To take a measurement, you simply place your hand on a device about the size of a shoebox and wait 30 seconds while the scanner analyzes your tissue. A laser beam is directed at the body, and the unique pattern of scattered light is analyzed—similar to how different materials reflect light in their own way. When the laser interacts with molecules in tissues or fluids, it causes them to vibrate, and they return light at slightly different wavelengths. This makes it possible to identify exactly which molecules are present.

Advantages and Accuracy of the New Technology

Building on previous research on measuring Raman signals from the skin, published in 2020, the MIT team discovered that by directing near-infrared light at the skin at a specific angle, they could measure just three Raman spectrum bands instead of the usual thousands of noisy bands. This approach allows for quick and accurate determination of blood glucose levels.

In a clinical study using this device, the blood glucose level of a healthy volunteer was measured every five minutes over four hours. The results showed that the scanner was as accurate as two commercial glucometers worn by the participant.

“By forgoing the collection of the full spectrum, which contains a lot of redundant information, we limited ourselves to three bands selected from about a thousand,” explained optical engineer Arianna Breschi, who led the study. “With this new approach, we can change the components typically used in Raman devices and save space, time, and resources.”

Development Prospects and Miniaturization

Although the current device is desktop-sized, the team is already working on a portable prototype about the size of a mobile phone. It is currently being tested in clinical settings, and larger trials involving people with diabetes are planned for the future. Researchers hope to eventually shrink the scanning technology to the size of a gadget that can be worn on the wrist.

Alternative Developments and the Future of the Market

This is not the first attempt to eliminate needles from blood sugar monitoring. Last year, a non-invasive ECG sensor was introduced on a chest strap weighing just 15 grams, which predicts glucose levels based on ECG data. It is expected to go on sale in about a year. There is hope that these and other innovative solutions will soon reach the market and make blood sugar monitoring less stressful for patients.