Researchers at the Indian Institute of Jodhpur Technology have developed a blood glucose measurement device based on paper technology, which is not only economical, but also incredibly accessible and easy to use.
This new device can be used from the comfort of our home and has a production cost of just 11 cents per unit, which in euros is less than a tenth of cent.What makes it even more impressive is its ability to connect to a mobile phone through an application, providing instantaneous results without the need for sophisticated laboratories or equipment.
Technology, known as PAD (Paper-Based Analytical Devices), works so that the functionalized biodegradable paper changes color according to the quantity and glucose level present in a blood sample.This, together with automatic learning algorithms, allows the device to work correctly under various lighting conditions, and that it is compatible with many mobile phone models.
In addition to measuring glucose, this device has the potential to adapt to detect other health conditions such as uric acid and lactate levels, which could revolutionize not only how we manage our diabetes, but also how we could monitor other chronic diseases from home.
What this means for us as a community is greater autonomy and ease in the management of our health, at a very small cost.It is a clear example of how technology can continue to improve our lives, especially when it comes to managing chronic health conditions such as diabetes.
Although this type of glucose strips could not compete with the modern continuous glucose (MCG) meters, they could be a good substitute for current reactive strips, drastically lowering their cost and making the control of diabetes even more accessible in countries in countrieswhere material and economic resources are scarce.
It seems like a good advance for diabetes globally, what do you think of you?
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