GlucoWatch - Early Glucose Monitoring Wearable Device

The GlucoWatch was an early wearable device for non-invasive glucose monitoring that used electrical currents to measure glucose levels.

GlucoWatch FAQ

Image credit: medaval.ie

What is GlucoWatch ®?

GlucoWatch ® is a non-invasive automatic glucose monitoring device worn on the wrist, similar to a Watch Fig. 2. The software can monitor glucose concentration trends in patients with diabetes and has been accepted as a supplement to traditional BG meters in monitoring diabetic patterns. GlucoWatch ® uses iontophoresis.

How does the GlucoWatch biographer work?

The GlucoWatch Biographer works by using an extremely low electric current to pull glucose through the skin. The glucose is then collected and transformed into an electric signal that is converted into a glucose reading. The system consists of two integrated parts, the Biographer and the AutoSensor.

Is the GlucoWatch still a noninvasive glucose monitor?

While the GlucoWatch is still the only noninvasive glucose monitor to reach the market, its rapid rise and fall is a fate that has been shared by countless other devices and companies reaching for this particular milestone. “Noninvasive glucose monitoring is the holy grail of the entire self-diagnostics field,” said Ali K. Yetisen.

Is GlucoWatch a prescription device for adults with diabetes?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Cygnus, Inc. approval to market its GlucoWatch Biographer as a prescription device for adults with diabetes. The GlucoWatch Biographer is the first and only monitoring system that provides glucose readings automatically and non-invasively, up to three times an hour, day or night.

Does the GlucoWatch biographer measure blood glucose?

The American Federal Drugs Administration reports that at least 50% of users experienced mild or moderate skin irritation. This new device for measuring glucose has been authorised for use in Britain. The GlucoWatch Biographer does not measure blood glucose directly, but measures slight chemical reactions on the surface of the skin.