Healthy Discoveries: Tiny beads monitors blood sugar

Healthy discoveries

Researchers in Japan have designed small beads that detects blood sugar levels when implanted in the ears of rats and they hope to eventually use this to replace more offensive techniques in people with diabetes.


The scientists reported in the journal Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences that laced with diboronic acid and certain hydrocarbons, the beads glow when they pick up glucose floating in the blood.


"Because of the virtue of their small size, the fluorescent microbeads are injectable, minimally invasive and speedily response to glucose change," wrote the researchers, led by Shoji Takeuchi at the University of Tokyo's Life Bio Electromechanical Autonomous Nano Systems Center.


The beads are smaller than the inner diameter of a general injection needle and the mice didn't exhibit abnormal behaviour after the beads were injected just under the skin of their ears.
The scientists found in the experiment that the strength of the glow from the beads mirrored closely sugar levels measured instantly from blood samples taken from the mice.


"Because the fluorescent microbeads don't require outer links or power sources to provide a readings, they could be used to fabricate minimally invasive glucose sensors for people who need to continuously monitor their blood glucose levels," they wrote.


Diabetes happens when the pancreas produces very little or no insulin, leaving the body unable to organize blood sugar. Left untreated, the person risks heart sicknesses, kidney failure, nerve and blood vessel damage, blindness and other complications.

Healthy discoveries

For decades, diabetics have monitored their blood sugar using traditional instruments, which require them to prick their fingers and draw blood, up to many times a day.


According to the World Health Organisation, more than 220 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes and 1.1 million people died from the sickness in 2005. This death figure will more than double by 2030.

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