BITS’ Smartwatch-Based Wearable Offers Painless Diabetes Complication Tracking
BITS Pilani-Hyderabad’s sweat-sensing smartwatch could transform diabetes monitoring
Hyderabad: A smartwatch-based diagnostic platform developed at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus could change how diabetes complications are monitored, without a single drop of blood. The device, which uses sweat instead of blood, can non-invasively measure not just glucose but also critical biomarkers like lactate and uric acid, offering early insights into complications such as neuropathy, lactic acidosis, and kidney dysfunction.
Unlike traditional glucometers, which require finger-prick blood samples and only offer glucose readings, this device enables continuous tracking of multiple metabolic markers. Developed by PhD scholar Abhishek Kumar and Prof. Sanket Goel, the device is part of a broader effort to shift diabetes diagnostics toward painless, affordable, and real-time monitoring solutions.
“Diabetes isn’t just about glucose. Complications can set in silently and early. Our system reads multiple biomarkers using sweat, and offers a more complete picture of a person’s health without the pain or cost of traditional lab testing,” said Prof. Goel. Priced around Rs 2,500, the wearable works like a regular smartwatch and delivers test results continuously.
The research, published in Lab on a Chip by the Royal Society of Chemistry, builds on a standalone, automated microfluidic-
Each disposable strip used with the device costs about Rs 10, much lower than existing diagnostic methods. “We designed this to be scalable and reliable. Every part is selected to cut costs without compromising performance,” said Kumar.
The start-up Cleome Innovations, spun off from BITS Pilani’s MEMS, Microfluidics and Nanoelectronics Lab, is working on translating the device into a commercial product. The team is preparing for clinical validation and pilot deployment, with plans for future versions in patch or flexible skin sensor formats.
Researchers say the device holds particular promise for remote and low-resource settings where access to lab tests is limited. It is currently at technology readiness level (TRL) 4–5 and could soon be used for at-home and telehealth-based diabetes management.
