Comparative Study of Current Approaches for Minimally Invasive and Non-invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring

Abstract

Monitoring of blood glucose for people with diabetes is an important element of managing the disease. Frequent monitoring can help to prevent both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia and thereby would contribute to reduce adverse complications associated with the disease. As the current methods of blood glucose monitoring are invasive, many people do not adhere to it as painful finger pricks and other complications are associated with it. Noninvasive methods for the same are long sought goals. A noninvasive self monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) device would allow the people with diabetes to test their blood glucose as often as necessary and perhaps in real time and will improve adherence. Although glucose in other body fluids (for example urine, sweat, tears and saliva) can be measured non-invasively, blood glucose levels do not register quickly in these fluids, which is problematic for diabetics. Hence it is mandatory to measure blood glucose instead of measuring it in any other body fluid. In this paper we have done a detailed study of the current approaches which are under various stages of research and development, for noninvasive self-monitoring of blood glucose. A comparative study has been presented based on the various aspects associated with each approach. Again the feasibility of these approaches to develop as a stand alone, portable, real time, noninvasive and accurate glucose monitor has been investigated. Finally, based on the study, a method has been suggested which has potential to cater the performance aspects of the so-called noninvasive SMBG device.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Prashant Bansod

Prashant Bansod bom in Madhya Pradesh in 1966 and received his BE degree in Electronics & Instrumentation from SGSITS, Indore in the year 1989. Later on he did MTech in Electronics from VRCE, Nagpur in the year 1992. He joined as lecturer in Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering department of SGSITS in the year 1993. His areas of interests include non-invasive biomedical and integrated sensors. He was promoted to senior lecturer in the year 1998. He is member of many professional bodies and member board of studies in Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishvavidyalaya, Bhopal.

M C Shrivastava

M C Shrivastava was born in Madhya Pradesh in 1947 and received BE and ME degrees from Indore University and Jabalpur University in the year 1970 and 1973 respectively. He spent five years in Electro medicals, Indore in the capacity of testing engineer, where he actively participated in the development of biomedical instruments. He joined SGSITS, Indore as lecturer in electronics & Telecommunication department in the year 1979. From 1985–89 he was a QIP research scholar at University of Roorkee, where he earned his PhD with his work in the area of solid-state electronics. Later on he became professor & head of Electronics & Instrumentation department at SGSAITS. He published more than 50 papers in the various national/international journals and conferences. His area of interest included microelectronics, medical electronics and compound semiconductor materials. In a tragic road accident, he passed away in the year 2002.