Glucowear: A non-invasive, wearable, real time continuous blood glucose monitoring sensor

A watch strap sensor measures blood glucose by detecting shifts in radio-wave frequency, without piercing the skin. This matters because millions of people with diabetes currently rely on finger-prick tests or invasive continuous monitors with needles that must be replaced every few days. The Glucowear sensor aims to eliminate both the pain and the waste. It fits on the underside of a standard watch strap, connects via Bluetooth to a phone or smartwatch, and sends real-time alerts to the user—and, if needed, to a physician or carer. A proof-of-concept clinical trial in 2020 showed glucose tracking comparable to the market leader. The device is now at technology readiness level 6, with a wearable prototype undergoing in-house developmental testing. Battery life is 10–14 days; shelf life is at least two years. If successful, this could shift diabetes management from a daily chore of pricks and sensor replacements to a passive, continuous process that integrates into ordinary life. It would also reduce medical waste from disposable sensor components. The personalised algorithm, trained on each user’s first day of data, adapts to individual physiology rather than applying a one-size-fits-all correction.