Glucose sensing implant

A prototype implantable glucose sensor has been developed by Professor David Gough’s team at the University of California in San Diego, with support from JDRF.

The device is inserted under the skin in a surgical procedure, and gives a reading of how glucose levels in the body are changing moment to moment by comparing 2 chemical reactions in the body. The device transmits readings wirelessly to a remote sensor that can pick up signs up to 3.5m away. It is speculated that the technology could be developed to send messages to mobile phones or other devices. The sensor is currently being tested in pigs but the researchers are planning to move to human trials of the device soon and hope the system may in future provide an alternative to the continuous glucose sensors which must be changed every few days.