Contact lenses may alert diabetics to blood sugar variations

Researchers from the University of Western Ontario have developed new kind of lenses that would continuously alert diabetics to the rising and falling of blood sugar levels by changing colors.

Working of the technique
The new technique uses extremely small nanoparticles rooted in the contact lenses. These nanoparticles react with the glucose molecules present in the naturally occurring tears and cause a chemical reaction.

Following the chemical reaction, the lenses change their colors, which is indicative of variation in the blood sugar levels, explained the researchers.

This breakthrough technique is developed by Jin Zhang , chemical and biochemical engineering professor at the University of Western Ontario.

Once developed, this technology will relieve the diabetics to carry around and use any devices which require the discomforting task of drawing blood to tab the glucose levels in the blood.

Scope of this technique
This sort of technology using composite nanoparticles may have broader application in areas beyond biomedical devices like food packaging, the researchers marked.

For instance, nanocomposite films could be used to prevent food spoilage by preventing oxygen, carbon dioxide and moisture from reaching fresh meats and other foods, or by making biodegradable packaging, they said.

Diabetes and symptoms
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder when the body produces little or no insulin or does not appropriately respond to insulin that is produced.

It is a hormone produced by the pancreas, and is required to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy.

Common symptoms of diabetes include excessive thirst and appetite, increased urination, unusual weight loss or gain, fatigue, nausea, blurred vision, frequent vaginal infections, dry mouth, slow-healing sores or cuts, itching skin, especially in the groin or vaginal area.