A lot of people worldwide have some form of Diabetes Either Type 1 Diabetes or type 2 , in the case of type 1 diabetes , it is necessary to strictly control the Glycemia (Concentration of glucose in the blood ) because in this variety, the body has no capacity to manufacture insulin, A hormone that is essential in controlling the blood glucose Therefore the patient needs externally administered insulin dose is correct, calculated according to blood glucose levels at the time , thus eliminating the need increases in blood glucose (hyperglycemia) in the long run cause serious health complications . (View chronic complications of Diabetes).
To monitor levels of glucose, diabetic used glucometers which is necessary in drawing blood through a finger prick , a procedure they have to do several times a day , thus resulting in invasive and annoying , there are also Monitors continuous glucose which as the name says report glucose levels continuously ( within minutes ) and are based on a sensor implanted under the skin , therefore does not require a finger prick , which is favorable , however , These monitors do not have the precision of traditional glucometers.
These devices are based mainly on a chemical reaction of glucose with an enzyme (glucose oxidase ) that one of their final products (hydrogen peroxide ) is measured and blood glucose thus obtained indirectly, this metric is about to change as researchers led by Michael Strano of MIT are making use studies carbon nanotubes wrapped in a polymer that forms a nanoparticle that is sensitive to glucose , in this case measuring the fluorescence of carbon nanotubes is correlated with the concentration of glucose.
On this basis , the researchers plan to design a spot with these nanoparticles injected under the skin in a Tattooing, that could last six months so we can know glycemia on an ongoing basis , through detection of its fluoerescencia , the advantage is that the nanotubes are not destroyed and also obtain more precise measurements at lower cost .
