[itissteve]

Engineers at Penn State University create a nickel-gold alloy that is deposited on a graphene substrate to measure glucose levels quickly from human sweat.

"[...]there is a strong correlation between glucose levels in sweat and blood."

 

[mbuster]

It might work great on me, I sweat like a horse. Do we sweat continuously even when ambient temperatures are lower than our body temperature?

 

[itissteve]

We do sweat all the time. The amount varies, how quickly it evaporates from our skin varies (in desert climates you almost cannot tell you're sweating), etc. I found out I sweated less once I lost a bunch of weight that was acting as an insulator for me.

 

[mbuster]

Just gleaning the titles of a google search, I didn't see anything that definitively said we sweat all the time. Was not enough interest to me to dig into the details. Graphene scared me away LOL.

 

[John H. Palmer]

Can blood sugar be measured without pricking finger?

 

[itissteve]

Can blood sugar be measured without pricking finger?

Hello, John. Welcome to the site!

Right now, accurate blood glucose measurements require blood, whether it's from a finger or upper arm/leg ("alternate site" testing) or a short needle under a patch for a continuous glucose monitor. I know there are companies working on measuring blood glucose more accurately through body fluids like sweat or even by applying special forms of light on the skin to kind of "inspect" the blood in capillaries near the skin. But, right now, actionable figures come from a blood sample.

Thanks for your first post, John. Could we ask you to go over to our New Member Forum and post an introduction of yourself and how you're managing your diabetes? Thanks!

 

[Nemo]

Engineers at Penn State University create a nickel-gold alloy that is deposited on a graphene substrate to measure glucose levels quickly from human sweat.

"[...]there is a strong correlation between glucose levels in sweat and blood."

Why am I hearing so much about graphene lately? Seems that it's not a good thing.

 

[itissteve]

Graphene is new and is considered a "wonder material" for all of its properties and the practical applications it can have. It's essentially carbon atoms in a specific format. It is very flexible and very strong and is electrically conductive and transparent and even non-toxic in small amounts, so it lends itself well to a bunch of uses in our electronics-driven world (especially medical uses).

 

[mbuster]

Can blood sugar be measured without pricking finger?

Yes, there are CGMs (continuous glucose monitors ) where a small tube from a sensor is inserted through the skin to measure glucose levels in interstitial fluids. The sensor is usually applied to a fatty area of the body (tricep, belly, thigh, etc.) and worn for 7 to 14 days, when a new sensor must be applied. There is also technology out that implants a sensor beneath the skin that needs to be replace monthly, but they are working on one that lasts 6 months and another for a year. Using some CGMs, still requires a finger stick to calibrate daily.

 

[Mark0]

Can blood sugar be measured without pricking finger?

i use occasionaly the Libre continuous glucose monitor and i love it, its on your upper arm for 2 weeks, holds 8 hours of results and you swipe your phone on the sensor a few times a day to upload the data off it, ive found it very usefull for testing different foods exersize sleep patterns and so on, can see good results. Downside in Australia is they are not subsidized by our government (like many things are) if you are type 2 which I am, they are for type 1, so are quiet expensive.

 

[itissteve]

Hi, Mark0. What is it that keeps you from using the Libre all the time? Is it the expense?

 

[Mark0]

Hi, Mark0. What is it that keeps you from using the Libre all the time? Is it the expense?

yes I would use it all the time if it was on on our PBS in australia, it costs $99.00 AUD without that and lasts 2 weeks, if I was Type 1 I could get it cheap and would use it a lot more, i think its a great tool for a 2 weeks check of how things are going monitored by the minute, website, graphs data is fantastic, i take it to my endo and its awesome, it helps me understand whats happeming but also proved to them what I say is happening happening, especially helped with probe my dawn phenomenon I get linked to waking up.

 

[mbuster]

Can your MODY diagnosis not help with a request from the endo?

 

[Mark0]

Can your MODY diagnosis not help with a request from the endo?

not that I am aware of no, but I see him next week again.

 

[T1-Mike]

yes I would use it all the time if it was on on our PBS in australia, it costs $99.00 AUD without that and lasts 2 weeks, if I was Type 1 I could get it cheap and would use it a lot more, i think its a great tool for a 2 weeks check of how things are going monitored by the minute, website, graphs data is fantastic, i take it to my endo and its awesome, it helps me understand whats happeming but also proved to them what I say is happening happening, especially helped with probe my dawn phenomenon I get linked to waking up.

Type 1 from Australia here. I started using the Libre CGM a few months ago (now Libre 2). It has helped me iron out a few unusual patterns and makes it easy to check how different foods affect my blood glucose levels. Unfortunately, not all T1s can get discounts for this CGM. It's only subsidized if you are under 21 years old, before, during or after pregnancy, or for certain other conditions. Details are on the NDSS site. I self-fund mine, but will soon go back to mostly finger-stick testing and use the Libre occasionally due to the cost. It's unfortunate as it has some good features and provides a lot of valuable information.

 

[itissteve]

I will soon go back to mostly finger-stick testing and use the Libre occasionally due to the cost. It's unfortunate as it has some good features and provides a lot of valuable information.

Hi, Mike, and congratulations on your first post! Lots of good info there for our fellow Australians.

I know that devices like the Libre were borne of the micro revolution that brought us laptop computers and smartphones. I can only hope they follow that trajectory of great leaps forward in capability coupled with at least the same (if not declining) cost.