In a recent post on The Scientist discussing the fate of non-invasive glucose monitoring devices the author throws in some numbers representing the scale of the the need for a better glucose monitoring solution:
“It’s not for lack of interest. The market is huge—and growing. Diabetes affects more than 30 million people in the U.S., and consulting company Frost & Sullivan has projected that the diabetes monitoring market will increase from a current value of around $10.71 billion to $14.68 billion by 2022. Chasing after this potential payout, dozens of companies have attempted to develop noninvasive glucose monitors, but all have failed to make the cut, sending many companies into bankruptcy. The latest array of experimental products employ technologies that range from infrared spectroscopy to measure glucose concentrations though the skin, to patches designed to monitor sugar levels in sweat, but whether any will prove an accurate alternative to the traditional finger prick remains to be seen.”
Commenting on the need of a non-invasive solution, Mark Rice, a physician and diabetes specialist at Vanderbilt University, suspects that the relevant technology to replace finger pricks has not been invented yet, or at least not applied to glucose measurements. But should it come along, he says, there’s no doubt “it would revolutionize the way we take care of patients.”
To read more on the article discussing where non-invasive glucose monitoring solutions are heading towards, visit the following article: http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/50631/title/Will-the-Noninvasive-Glucose-Monitoring-Revolution-Ever-Arrive-/