Drug-free treatment for diabetes and obesity may become possible as scientists develop a wireless device that detects high blood sugar levels and removes excess sugar from bloodstream

Managing diabetes and obesity without relying on medication could become a possibility with a new technology developed by scientists in France and Switzerland. The wireless electronic device is designed to remove excess glucose from the bloodstream and could offer a drug-free approach to treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. A study published in the journal Sciencefound that the device works with a continuous glucose monitor, automatically activating when blood sugar levels rise beyond a set limit and converting excess glucose into gluconate, which is then removed by the kidneys.

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What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition in which blood sugar levels become too high because the body cannot use insulin properly. According to Harvard Health, the condition occurs when the body's cells become resistant to insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps glucose move from the bloodstream into cells to provide energy.


When a person eats, the body breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugars, mainly glucose. As blood sugar levels rise, the pancreas releases insulin to help cells absorb glucose. However, in people with type 2 diabetes, the cells do not respond properly to insulin. This is known as insulin resistance, causing excess glucose to build up in the bloodstream.

Although the condition was once commonly associated with middle and older age, it is increasingly being diagnosed in children and teenagers as well, Harvard Health said.

What is the device to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity?

Researchers have developed an implantable wireless device that uses electricity to convert excess blood glucose into gluconate, which is then removed by the kidneys. The technology, called the electrocatalytic closed-loop health optimisation (ECHO) device, was tested in mice with type 2 diabetes and obesity.

According to the study in Science journal, activating the device brought elevated blood sugar levels back to normal within an hour. It also encouraged the animals' bodies to use stored fat for energy, resulting in lower body weight and triglyceride levels, alongside higher levels of free fatty acids and ketone bodies.

The six-week trial found no detectable episodes of dangerously low blood sugar or adverse effects on the animals' physical health, inflammation levels or behaviour. Researchers also connected the implant to a commercially available continuous glucose monitor, allowing it to automatically respond to changes in blood sugar levels and manage the condition without medication, according the study.

What did the results show when it comes to helping patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity

The study published in Science suggests that a wireless implant could potentially help manage diabetes and obesity without administering medication. By converting excess blood glucose into gluconate and encouraging the body to use stored fat for energy, the technology offers a new approach to metabolic control. However, its safety and effectiveness in humans are yet to be established.

The device showed promising results in mice with diabetes and obesity, according to the study published in the journal Science. Researchers found that activating the implant helped bring elevated blood sugar levels back to normal, with repeated treatment keeping glucose levels under control for six weeks without causing dangerously low blood sugar.

The technology also appeared to influence how the body used energy. With less glucose circulating in the blood, the mice began relying more on stored fat for fuel. This was accompanied by lower triglyceride levels and body weight, along with an increase in free fatty acids and ketone bodies.

The implant remained functional throughout the six-week trial, and researchers did not detect any adverse effects on the animals' health, inflammation levels or behaviour.

The researchers also connected the implant to a commercially available continuous glucose monitor, allowing it to operate automatically. The system switched on the electrocatalyst only when blood sugar crossed a predefined threshold, helping keep glucose levels within the desired range.

Economic burden of diabetes

India faces the world's second-highest economic burden from diabetes, estimated at INT$ 11.4 trillion when the cost of unpaid care provided by family members is included, according to a study published in Nature Medicine.

The United States tops the list with an estimated burden of INT$ 16.5 trillion, while China ranks third at INT$ 11 trillion

The study estimated that the global economic cost of diabetes could reach around INT$ 10 trillion, excluding unpaid care provided by family members. This amounts to approximately 0.2% of the world's annual gross domestic product (GDP). However, when informal caregiving costs are included, the figure could rise to INT$ 152 trillion, equivalent to 1.7% of global annual GDP.

The study also noted that unpaid caregiving accounts for nearly 90% of the total economic burden, partly because the number of people living with diabetes is 30 to 50 times higher than the number of deaths associated with the condition.