Sufferers of diabetes can be forced to endure painful, invasive treatments such as injections to keep their blood glucose levels in check.
However, a new device developed by North Carolina researchers may put an end to injections used to regulate blood glucose level and deliver insulin to diabetics.
"We have designed a patch for diabetes that works fast, is easy to use, and is made from nontoxic, biocompatible materials," said study co-senior author Zhen Gu.
According to The Washington Post, the device—a patch the size no bigger than a penny—contains hundreds of microneedles, each the size of an eyelash.
These tiny needles can store insulin units and are also packed with glucose-detecting enzymes, which immediately release the insulin units when blood glucose levels become too high.
The smart insulin patch has only been tested on mice so far. Experiments showed that it can lower blood sugar levels for nine hours in mice that have Type 1 Diabetes.
John Buse, co-author of the paper, described the research as a "way cool technology." While the team finds the device to be an exciting breakthrough, they admit that it is still in its preliminary stages and needs much more work before it can become a reality for the public.
Controlling blood sugar levels is no easy feat for diabetics. Many have to go through regular finger prick tests to get a measure of their glucose levels, as well as receive painful insulin injections from time to time to maintain healthy sugar levels.
Buse describes diabetes treatment as a "hassle" and a "straight up pain in the butt."
However, the smart patch should make glucose monitoring easier as it only needs to be placed on the skin and will be painless.
The tiny needles will pierce through the skin surface and gain access to the blood via the capillaries without causing any discomfort.
While the smart insulin patch shows great promise in mice studies, the team has said that more clinical trials are needed to establish how well it will work on humans.
The findings were published on Monday and can be found in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
