Tattoo For Diabetic Patients Helps Them Check Levels Without The Finger Prick

For many diabetics, checking blood sugar levels involves a painful daily finger prick. Now, engineers at the University of California, San Diego, are working to eliminate this need. They've found a new way to help with the health issue with a tattoo that checks levels without the pain.

The technology consists of a small sensor and electrodes that help monitor the patient's blood sugar. The sensors contain enzymes that are sensitive to change in blood glucose levels and measure the concentration of sugar while pulling fluid from the skin.

"Presently the tattoo sensor can easily survive for a day," said researcher Amay Bandokar, via American Live Wire. "These are extremely inexpensive, only a few cents, and hence can be replaced without much financial burden on the patient."

To test it out, researchers tried out the tattoo on seven subjects after each had eaten a large meal. Each participant was male, non-diabetic and between the age of 20 and 40.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have noted that the tattoo patch will be easy to apply and has the thickness of sticking tape.

Researchers said that more research will be needed before the drug can be used. However, it may also be helpful in monitoring other compounds in the blood later, including metabolites, medications or alcohol and illegal drugs.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Analytical Chemistry.

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