No more finger pricks: IIT Madras develops new wearable patch that tracks sugar without a smartphone

A group of researchers from one of India’s premier institutions, IIT Madras, have developed and patented a cost-effective, user-friendly, and minimally invasive glucose monitoring device for diabetes patients. The researchers have reimagined the device from the ground up, focusing on comfort, accessibility and long-term affordability while ensuring high standards of accuracy and reliability.

How does the device matter?

This patented device spares patients the discomfort of multiple finger pricks a day, thereby making glucose monitoring painless. It also encourages people to check their levels more regularly and take timely action, leading to fewer emergencies. A domestically developed device, it strengthens self-reliance in medical technology, reducing dependence on imported devices and creates opportunities for local manufacturing and employment. 

As per an Indian Council of Medical Research – India Diabetes (ICMR INDIAB) study published in 2023, the prevalence of diabetes is 10.1 crore people or approximately 9 per cent of the population. The most common method in use in India is the self-monitoring of blood glucose, known as SMBG, which requires finger-prick blood sampling multiple times a day. It is effective, but invasive. Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) systems represent an advance over SMBG, offering real-time readings without repeated finger pricks. However, the current generation of CGMs comes with its own set of limitations, such as high cost, dependence on separate devices, such as smartphones or dedicated readers, to display results.

With an idea to address this challenge, IIT Madras researchers from the Electronic Materials and Thin Films Lab, led by Prof Parasuraman Swaminathan, developed a set of innovations that together redefine a CGM device. These innovations have been formally recognised and protected through multiple patents. The cornerstone of this solution is a modular system that combines reusable electronics and a low-power display unit with a disposable micro-needle sensor patch.

“From a researcher’s perspective, the real measure of success is when an idea steps out of the lab and starts making a tangible difference in people’s lives. In the case of diabetes management, that difference could mean sparing someone the discomfort of multiple finger pricks a day, helping them stay in range more consistently, and ultimately preventing long-term complications,” said Prof Parasuraman Swaminathan, Electronic Materials and Thin Films Lab, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.

'A real enabler'

Explaining about the device, L. Balamurugan, an IIT Madras MS Entrepreneurship scholar working on this solution, said, “A device like this is a real enabler. By making glucose monitoring painless, discreet, and affordable, it encourages people to check their levels more regularly, understand their body’s patterns, and take timely action. Over time, it leads to fewer emergencies, fewer hospital visits and less strain on families and healthcare systems. On a national scale, a domestically-developed CGM also strengthens our self-reliance in medical technology, reducing dependence on imported devices and creating opportunities for local manufacturing and employment.”

From the outset, this project was conceived not just as an academic exercise but as a technology with a clear path to real-world use and a strategy has been prepared to take it forward on three parallel blocks.

The strategies include a start-up commercialisation, technology transfer to industry and strategic licensing opportunities.

As of now, the current status of the research is that functional prototypes of the display module have been built and tested in the lab. The display module is also protected through two granted Indian patents. The core innovations are secured through two granted Indian patents and one international PCT application. Bench tests have confirmed sensing accuracy, signal stability, and the viability of the low-power integrated display. Next steps include clinical validation, manufacturing readiness, regulatory clearance and testing for reliability in real-world conditions.

Technical aspects of the device

The reusable unit houses the control electronics, power source, communication interfaces, and a novel, low-powered, patented electro-thermochromic display. Unlike conventional CGMs, which rely on smartphones or bulky receivers, this device shows glucose readings directly on the patch. This means that whether the patient is in a meeting, out for a jog, or simply relaxing at home, the patient can check the glucose level with a glance, no external gadget required.

The entire system has been optimised for energy efficiency. The patented electro-thermochromic display consumes power only when updating readings, and the electronics are designed to function on low power, extending battery life and reducing the frequency of recharging.

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