Blood Glucose Monitoring
Introduction
Blood Glucose monitoring has seen many different technologies. From the basic needle testing technology to now used insulin pumps, the technology has seen many disruptive innovations, which together have shaped the market to the way it is now. In general, the major disruptive technologies in the blood glucose monitoring market can be summarized as follows:
1. Needle-prick detection- This technology involved the use of a needle to collect blood on a strip. The blood was later analyzed using a glucose meter to give the reading of blood glucose level. Even though the technology was simplistic and fairly accurate, the problems involved lack of compliance due to pain in finger pricking and blood loss.
2. Non-invasive glucose monitoring- This technology involved the use of innovative devices like watches that pulled the interstitial fluid non-invasively form under the skin and used this fluid in an in-built glucose monitor to give a blood glucose reading. Even though the development efforts for this project started in 1991, it was not until 2002 that the first non-invasive glucose monitor was approved. The advantages of this technology are the ease of use and continuous monitoring. However, initial devices struggled with accuracy and were extremely uncomfortable and unreliable for the patients.
3. Implantable glucose monitor with insulin pumps- This technology involves an implant of the glucose monitor in the body and continuously draws blood from one of the veins to take the blood glucose readings. The development of this technology began around the same time as non-invasive glucose monitoring. In the recent years, implantable blood glucose monitors have b ...