Diabetes and Google

Diabetes is one of the most life-threatening diseases in the whole world. According to WHO, 347 million people, worldwide, have diabetes. The leading organization also predicts that by 2030, diabetes will be the 7^th leading cause of deaths. The two types of diabetes vary in some characteristics, but the damage to the body is similar. The term “diabetes mellitus” describes a metabolic disorder of multiple etiology characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both”.

Diabetes can harm the patients internally and externally. High sugar levels can lead to kidney failure, eyesight weakening, heart diseases and many more. For diabetic patients tired with having to use pin prick blood tests every now and then to monitor their blood sugar levels, the good news is that Google has invented a novel pair of contact lenses to keep their glucose levels in check. The contact lenses have special sensors, minute transistors and a microscopic hair-thin antenna. The readings are then wirelessly transmitted to a handheld monitor device

Many patients have to administer pin pricks, sometimes more than 10 times in a single day in order to keep an eye on their glucose levels, as is evident from the case of Michael Vahradian, who finds it rather cumbersome to use them. Google lens, which will be available in markets in about 5 years, will revolutionize the way diabetes blood sugar levels are monitored and will ease the process for millions around the world.

Google is best known as a search engine and advertising company. However, it has launched a number of other useful wearable products, like Google Glass and a special pair of glasses fitted with cameras and a small computer display. Although, research on contact lenses for monitoring blood sugar levels started many years ago at the University of Washington, it was Google really which made the project a reality. The man behind the invention, Brian Otis expresses his opinion:

“You can take it to a certain level in an academic setting, but at Google we were given the latitude to invest in this project.”

Readers can refer to Current Diabetes Reviews by Bentham Science Publishers for the latest developments in the field of diabetes and its cures. A Bentham eBook, Epidemiology of Type 2 Diabetes is also a useful guide on diabetes epidemiology.