Automated Glucose Control: A Review

Glucose Monitoring Technologies

Although we do not have any cure for diabetes until now, but we have improved significantly in management and control of the disease through improved glucose monitoring and appropriate medications. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is done through the sensors and they can be categorized into two groups. Invasive and non/minimally invasive blood glucose sensors. Most of the invasive methods widely used today are based on Clark’s concept. He was an American biochemist Leland C. Clark who invented the first oxygen based electrode, called “Clark electrode”. Clark used glucose and glucose oxidase, to remove oxygen by reducing it to H₂O₂.

Glucose oxidase serves as a catalyst to convert glucose to gluconolactone. A current is generated from the reduction-oxidation reactions which is measured through electrochemistry (Oliver et al., 2009; Phillips and James, 2004). Finally the measured voltage is translated into glucose scale by a process called calibration.