Non-Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Technology: A Review

• Published in: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 20; no. 23; p. 6925
• Main Authors: Tang, Liu, Chang, Shwu Jen, Chen, Ching-Jung, Liu, Jen-Tsai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 04.12.2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Biosensing Techniques; Biosensors; Blood Glucose; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; Diabetes; electrochemistry; Electrodes; glucose biosensor; Glucose monitoring; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Hypoglycemia; Insulin resistance; ISF glucose; Metabolism; Methods; microwave; Monitoring, Physiologic; non-invasive; optics; Review; Sensors; Spectrum analysis; Wearable Electronic Devices; non-invasive; electrochemistry; reverse iontophoresis; ISF glucose; glucose biosensor; optics; microwave
• ISSN: 1424-8220; 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s20236925

In recent years, with the rise of global diabetes, a growing number of subjects are suffering from pain and infections caused by the invasive nature of mainstream commercial glucose meters. Non-invasive blood glucose monitoring technology has become an international research topic and a new method which could bring relief to a vast number of patients. This paper reviews the research progress and major challenges of non-invasive blood glucose detection technology in recent years, and divides it into three categories: optics, microwave and electrochemistry, based on the detection principle. The technology covers medical, materials, optics, electromagnetic wave, chemistry, biology, computational science and other related fields. The advantages and limitations of non-invasive and invasive technologies as well as electrochemistry and optics in non-invasives are compared horizontally in this paper. In addition, the current research achievements and limitations of non-invasive electrochemical glucose sensing systems in continuous monitoring, point-of-care and clinical settings are highlighted, so as to discuss the development tendency in future research. With the rapid development of wearable technology and transdermal biosensors, non-invasive blood glucose monitoring will become more efficient, affordable, robust, and more competitive on the market.