No needles needed: Wearable glucose monitors could reveal early diabetes warning signs missed by blood tests

Medical Xpress April 22, 2025
University of Tokyo

The highs and lows of blood glucose aren’t just an energy rollercoaster; they could be a key to detecting diabetes risk early and spare you a needle prick or two.

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have identified a simple, noninvasive method for assessing blood glucose regulation—an essential factor in diabetes risk. Their approach, based on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data, could improve early detection and risk assessment for diabetes without relying on blood samples and expensive or complex procedures.

The study is published in Communications Medicine.

Often called a “silent epidemic,” diabetes is an increasingly prevalent global health concern, with significant health and economic consequences. Early detection of impaired glucose regulation—an intermediate stage between normal blood glucose levels and...