Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed what they call "Life Beans". These are fluorescent beads that are implanted inside the human body. They glow with varying intensity subject to the glucose level of the patient:
Researchers tested it in the ears of a mouse, and watched as the ear fluoresced at different intensities depending on the mouse's blood sugar.
The researchers think it would be possible to develop devices that manage diabetics' blood sugar without them noticing it.
One difficulty with the current design is that the patient's immune system attacks the beads and dims the lights.
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-08/life-beans-could-be-made-implantable-glucose-monitor | Video | Image: DigInfo
Previously:
Contact Lenses That Change Color to Alert Diabetics of Glucose Levels
Diabetes-Monitoring Nanoparticle Tattoos
Comments (3)
Then again, I actually did try to take the exam for the postal service once. It took the administrators of the test 45 minutes to explain to everyone there how to fill out the name portion of the test. No joke. The entire test was supposed to take less than an hour, and I ended up not taking the exam because I was an instructor and had to get to my next class. Gave me a whole new perspective on the level of intelligence the government seemed to be looking for.