MIT published a new article regarding sodium and glucose monitoring. Instead of peeing or pricking, a solution containing nanoparticles is injected just under the skin like a tattoo. These nanoparticles will fluoresce when exposed to whatever the target molecule is, such as sodium or glucose. The monitoring will be via an iPhone.
http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/38065/?a=f
Definitely there are some things that I wish they had included such as other impacts that could potentially skew a "scan", how long does it take for the nanoparticles to react when and if they find the target molecule, etc.
My feelings are two fold. 1. It could be used to track many things besides glucose and sodium, offering easier, more accurate, and way less painful ways, to find indicators of biological activity: disease, infection, environmental exposures, cyclists and other high performance athletes could closely monitor their levels to prevent dehydration, anemic patients could track their blood oxygen levels, the list could really grow and expand. My friends with diabetes would love this and if I had a serious enough issue that needed monitoring I probably would too. 2. I definitely thought sci-fi Total Recall/Terminator kind of tracking would eventually morph from this wonderful idea to new frightening levels of Big Brother is Watching. I love science but we all know that sometimes the best intentions go seriously wrong.
Sodium and glucose, Ketone Sticks!, pop up a lot on PH, and I've read posts from PH folks that are diabetic, so I'm curious. Would you use a tool such as this? If yes, why? If no, why? Benefits, negatives, etc.
