A Color-Changing Tattoo Will Let You Know Your Blood Sugar Levels At A Glance

Aside from the obvious long-term health issues associated with diabetes, the daily blood sugar checks can serve as their own sort of hardship. Normally, someone suffering from diabetes must draw blood using a special kit once or several times per day. Not only is it a hassle, but the inconvenience of the process can lead to negligence, especially by young sufferers.

So anything that makes the process easier, isn’t just more convenient—it’s a more effective treatment altogether.

With that ease of use in mind, a joint Harvard and MIT research team has developed a specialized reactive ink that could be tattooed on a diabetes patient, allowing them to check their blood sugar levels by simply registering the color of their body art.

The product, still being tested, is known as DermalAbyss ink. The substance, once injected, is reactive, not only to glucose levels, but also to sodium and even your body’s pH, promising uses beyond the diabetes population.

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The product has many hurdles to overcome before we’ll see any humans sporting the innovative ink, but the tests performed so far on pig skin, show promise, functionality, and, above all, reliability.

Adding an aesthetic element to the process, the ink can be applied in any shape of the wearer's choosing, as long as it’s readily visible and readable.

I guess that means no lower back tattoos, which, let’s be honest, is probably a good thing for everyone involved.