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The future of painless sugar testing: Why are we still searching for the perfect solution?
With the increase in the number of diabetes patients, the demand for painless sugar measurement technology is becoming more and more urgent. These technologies are designed to provide diabetics with accurate measurements of their blood sugar levels without the discomfort of puncturing the skin. Research on painless sugar testing has been underway since 1975, but to date there has not been a product that can be used clinically.
As of 1999, only one such product had been approved by the FDA, but it was withdrawn due to poor performance and occasional skin damage in users.
Hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in the search for an efficient and painless sugar measurement solution, and the research team has tried a variety of methods, including near-infrared spectroscopy and charge transfer catalysis. According to a 2012 study that reviewed ten major technologies, none produced a commercially viable and clinically reliable device, suggesting that much work is needed to improve the accuracy of painless glucose-measuring technologies.
Before 2014, although at least one non-invasive glucose meter was already on the market in several countries, the average absolute bias in clinical trials was close to 30%.
In the process of exploring painless glucose measurement technology, Raman spectroscopy has gradually attracted attention due to its potential for continuous blood glucose monitoring. Researchers from MIT have teamed up with C8 Medisensors to explore the possibilities of using this technology.
Since 2020, this technology has entered a new stage of development as large companies and startups have jointly invested in the research and development of new painless sugar testing solutions. In particular, technology giants such as Apple and Samsung have been actively exploring the integration of non-invasive CGM in their wearable devices.
For example, Apple is developing a painless CGM with the goal of integrating it into the Apple Watch and reported proof-of-concept results in 2023.
Another German company, DiaMonTech AG, is developing its D-Pocket device, which uses infrared laser technology to scan interstitial fluid to detect blood sugar, and claims its method has a median absolute relative error of 11.3%.
However, no single technology has yet been widely accepted, and experts say that to be considered standard for widespread use, painless blood glucose monitors would need to have an accuracy index of less than 20% median absolute relative error.
Despite these technical challenges, the number of clinical trials for painless blood glucose monitoring has continued to increase since the 21st century. From 2000 to 2015, the National Institutes of Health recorded four clinical studies, compared to 16 between 2016 and 2020.
Currently, new technologies such as electromagnetic sensing and Bluetooth monitoring for diabetes technology are emerging. These technologies all capitalize on the need for real-time data among people with diabetes as a means of improving their quality of life.
The increase in start-ups aiming at painless sugar testing has naturally attracted more funding and attention, which is the key to a possible breakthrough in technology.
The future of painless sugar testing technology is still uncertain, but it brings a new perspective to human medicine. As technology continues to advance, the possibility of painless blood sugar measurement is getting closer and closer. Can we expect to realize this vision in the near future?
