Health

Diabetics, prepare to wave goodbye to the finger prick test

A new technology is set to pave the way in monitoring blood-sugar levels.
Diabetes

It seems an alternative for finger prick tests may be just around the corner, thanks to a revolutionary new device.

The tech, called Eversense, appears slightly longer than a capsule, and is implanted under the skin of the upper arm by your doctor in a simple, five-minute procedure.

Once complete, the device, fitted with a tiny sensor, will monitor the body’s glucose levels and send regular data and alerts to the user’s smartphone should blood sugar levels drop too low, or rise too high.

An external transmitter worn over the insertion site will also vibrate to inform them of the low or high levels if the patient happens to lose connection with their smartphone.

What’s more, the implant lasts 90 days before replacement is needed, eliminating the often painful finger pricks those with diabetes will have to endure on a frequent basis.

The technology has been approved across Europe, but is yet to become available in Australia.

Image via: Eversense

The news comes as a 10-year study finds that the yearly rate of newly diagnosed cases of type 1 and type 2 diabetes is rising significantly in young people.

Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers at The University of North Carolina found there to be a 1.8 per cent increase annually of new type 1 diabetes cases, and an alarming 4.8 per cent increase in type 2 diabetes diagnoses.

Signs and symptoms of diabetes

While some will experience no signs and live undiagnosed for lengths of time, common symptoms include:

  • Increased thirst

  • Frequent urination

  • Feeling tired and lethargic

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Slow-healing wounds

  • Blurred vision

If you are experiencing the above symptoms, or wish to find out more about diabetes, book in with your trusted GP today.

Related stories

Kids of obese mums at higher risk of diabetes
Parenting

Kids of obese mums at higher risk of diabetes

The children of obese mothers are far more likely to develop diabetes than those with thinner mums. An international study led by Dr Matt Sabin from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne has found that a mother’s body mass index (BMI) can be used to predict whether a child will develop type 2 diabetes. […]