Google is making contact lenses for diabetics

Just when you think technology can't get any more mind-boggling, Google has announced a new project that should interest people with diabetes.

Last week the company revealed they are working on developing special contact lenses that can monitor a diabetic's blood sugar levels. Tiny sensors in the lenses will detect glucose levels in tears via a wireless chip and sensor that is embedded between two layers of the lens material.

"Over the years, many scientists have investigated various body fluids—such as tears—in the hopes of finding an easier way for people to track their glucose levels," Brain Otis and Babak Parviz, project co-founders, wrote on Google's official blog. "But as you can imagine, tears are hard to collect and study. At Google[x], we wondered if miniaturized electronics—think: chips and sensors so small they look like bits of glitter, and an antenna thinner than a human hair—might be a way to crack the mystery of tear glucose and measure it with greater accuracy."


An early warning?

The company says the lenses may also have potential to serve as an early warning for the wearer, indicating to the individual when blood sugar levels have gone far too low or high.

With plans to partner with other experts in the health and technology fields, Google says the project comes at a time when the world is losing the battle against diabetes.

"We hope this could someday lead to a new way for people with diabetes to manage their disease," Otis and Parviz wrote.

Source: Google


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