A new glucose monitor shows your blood sugar on the patch itself, with no needle and no phone; here's how it works

Many of the traditional devices still require a needle-based insertion and sometimes a smartphone to monitor blood sugar. They require users to prick their fingers and place a blood sample on a test strip. Many of the current Continuous glucose monitors require users to check their readings through a smartphone application or sometimes a separate receiver. But now, Biolinq Shine makes glucose monitoring simpler. The aim is to simplify the process of monitoring blood sugar. It places the display directly on the wearable patch. With its help, users can check information about their glucose. They will not have to check their phones regularly in order to check it.

What is Biolinq Shine?

Biolinq Shine is a needle-free glucose monitor. It is a wearable patch that uses tiny silicon-based microsensors. The display on the patch helps in providing real-time feedback without a smartphone app.

Biolinq CEO and UC Irvine alum Rich Yang has claimed that the device "can help people see what they can’t otherwise feel in the moment."


It was also recognised in TIME magazine's Best Inventions of 2026 list.

Who founded Biolinq Shine?

Biolinq Shine was co-founded by Jared Tangney, a UC San Diego bioengineering alum, and Joshua Windmiller, a UC San Diego electrical engineering alum.

Tangney studied bioengineering, while Windmiller studied electrical engineering. The technology was based on Windmiller’s doctoral and postdoctoral research in the lab of UC San Diego professor Joseph Wang.

ALSO READ: Two former SpaceX engineers built a 25-pound machine that turns seawater into drinking water at the push of a button; here's how it works

Who can use it?

The use is intended for adults aged 22 and older who are not on insulin. The aim is to provide glucose range information and to help support awareness about glucose trends.

The FDA clearance

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first gave Biolinq Shine De Novo classification in 2025. In September 2026, the FDA granted 510(K) clearance to the first needle-free wearable, Biolinq Shine. This meant that it was safe and effective for wide-scale use.