Recent advancements in noninvasive glucose monitoring and closed-loop management systems for diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes can cause many complications, and has become one of the most common diseases that may lead to death. Currently, the number of diabetics continues to increase year by year. Thus, it is very important and highly desirable to monitor, control and cure diabetes. However, such management usually require long-term blood glucose monitoring and regular medication to reduce the risk of many complications. In order to provide patients with more effective and more convenient treatments, a portable, miniaturized, intelligent, painless and automatic closed-loop system is highly required and many related research studies have recently been reported. It is the right time and important to provide a summary in this field. Here, this review covers important parts of a closed-loop management system for diabetes, including the principle of electrochemical sensing of glucose, recent progress of noninvasive glucose monitoring technology, and its applications in wearable glucose sensors. Moreover, the latest advancements in an insulin delivery system and a diabetic closed-loop management system are also presented in detail. Finally, challenges and perspectives for an artificial pancreas are also presented. We believe that with the innovative glucose monitoring technology and the optimization of the drug delivery system, the closed-loop management system for diabetes will make much progress in the near future.