Paper patch promises non-invasive monitoring for exercising diabetics

State University of New York in Binghamton, US have developed a self-powered paper patch that could enable diabetics to monitor their glucose levels during exercise.

The disposable patch, which is able to measure glucose levels in a wearer’s sweat, offers potential advantages over existing invasive blood testing methods which are impractical to carry out during exercise.

The innovative biosensor integrates a vertically stacked, paper-based glucose/oxygen enzymatic fuel cell into a standard adhesive plaster.

Seiken Choi, an assistant professor at the University’s Electrical and Computer Science department said: "The paper-based device attaches directly to skin, wicks sweat to a reservoir where chemical energy is converted to electrical energy, and monitors glucose without external power and sophisticated readout instruments."

Sweat-based glucose sensing is attractive for managing exercise-induced hypoglycaemia because the measurement is performed during or immediately after exercise when there is enough sweat to obtain an adequate sample, he added.