Diabetes skin taster technology unveiled that monitors blood glucose levels

A pioneering technology has been unveiled which “tastes” the skin to check blood sugar levels, instead of analysing samples of blood.
The K’Track Glucose is a wearable device which its developers, PKvitality, hope could alleviate the painful task of finger pricking for people with diabetes.
PKvitality, a French start-up company, has designed a unique biosensor called SkinTaste, which is made up of lots of tiny needles that collect and analyze fluid found on the skin.
The K’Track Glucose device uses this biosensor to read whatever is found in a substance called interstitial fluid – found around tissue cells – which can absorb glucose from the blood.
Interstitial fluid acts as a reservoir of nutrients, including glucose, which the cells can draw upon. The fluid accounts for as much as 16 per cent of an average person’s body weight.
Unveiling
The device, which does not require test strips and can be worn around the user’s wrist, was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show which took place in Las Vegas this week.
Blood glucose readings are taken within a minute of a button being pressed. It can also measure the number of steps the person has take, the distance travelled and how many calories have been burnt.
Data history is captured via iOS and Android apps which means the user has fast access to their results. The device also alerts and reminds users when their next check is due.
’Painless’ management
A spokesperson for PKvitality said: “K’Track Glucose is the first wearable tracker that measures your glucose effortlessly, painlessly and in seconds.
“K’Track allows people with diabetes to self-monitor their glucose levels without the need for cumbersome and painful blood-based tests. K’Track Glucose requires no calibratio, just a simple press gesture on the watch to displays the glucose level.”
The device was awarded 3 Innovation Honoree at CES 2017, among which a best of innovation award in the category Tech for a Better World.
The company has also launched another similar product called the K’Track Athlete, which measures the wearer’s lactic acid, in order to improve fitness training