Checking your blood sugar multiple times a day by pricking your finger is one of the most frustrating parts of managing diabetes. MIT researchers may have finally found a way to make that a thing of the past.
How It Works: Raman Spectroscopy Through the Skin
MIT engineers have developed a shoebox-sized device that measures blood glucose levels without needles. It uses reflectance-mode spectroscopy—shining near-infrared light on the skin and analyzing how that light interacts with molecules in your tissue.
The device picks up glucose signals from just below the skin’s surface—no needle insertions or finger pricks required.
How Accurate Is It?
Quite accurate. In tests on a healthy volunteer, the device produced readings that matched those of standard glucose monitors requiring under-the-skin sensors.
Measurements were taken every 5 minutes over a 4-hour period while the volunteer consumed glucose drinks to test the device across various blood sugar levels.
Each reading takes just over 30 seconds—remarkably fast for a noninvasive technique.
“If we can create a noninvasive glucose monitor with high accuracy, then nearly everyone with diabetes will benefit,” says Jeon Woong Kang, MIT research scientist and senior author of the study.
The researchers plan a larger study next year with diabetic volunteers and are working to ensure accurate readings across different skin tones—a critical step before this could become a mainstream product.
Is a Wearable Version Coming?
Yes—and sooner than you might think. The team has already built a smaller prototype roughly the size of a cell phone, currently being tested with healthy and prediabetic volunteers. The goal is to eventually shrink it down to smartwatch size.
If tests succeed, we could soon have accurate blood glucose monitoring in smartwatches—a potentially life-changing upgrade for diabetic patients.
And MIT isn’t alone in this effort. Smartwatch makers like Huawei are testing diabetes risk detection on their devices. We hope these new developments become publicly available soon, as they’re sure to improve our lives.
It’s early days—but the finger prick might finally be on its way out.
