Diabetes mellitus (DM) has become a worldwide epidemic — studies estimate that by 2035, approximately 592 million people will be affected. The disease can occur when the pancreas produces very little to no insulin, which can elevate glucose levels in blood. Patients must carefully monitor blood glucose levels to ensure they do not get too high.
Maintaining appropriate blood sugar levels is essential to avoiding secondary complications such as strokes, heart attacks, blindness, and coma. DM patients with insulin-dependent diabetes (mainly Type 1) must be particularly vigilant of their glucose levels when taking insulin, the regulatory hormone that their bodies fail to produce.
The most common glucose-testing instrument requires finger-pricking to obtain a blood sample that is analyzed by a portable glucometer. The process can be uncomfortable and even painful, and carries the risk of infection.
Other options include continuous glucose monitoring, which involves a sensor inserted just under the patient’s skin and a monitor that displays glucose readings that update about every five minutes. The device usually attaches to the hip for portability, but it requires constant...
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