A new prototype smart ring, CHARM, can monitor glucose, ketones, and other biomarkers in real time by analysing sweat, potentially transforming health management for conditions like diabetes.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have unveiled a prototype smart ring that goes beyond heart-rate and sleep tracking by reading chemical signals in sweat. The device, called CHARM, short for Continuous Health Analysing Ring Module, is designed to sit on a finger, draw out tiny amounts of sweat and send the data wirelessly to a smartphone.
Unlike most consumer rings, which rely mainly on light-based sensors, CHARM uses an osmotic hydrogel to passively pull sweat from the skin. That fluid is then analysed by an electrochemical sensor array capable of monitoring glucose, ketones, ascorbic acid, uric acid, lactate and alcohol. According to the team’s paper in Nature Communications, the ring can track these biomarkers in real time and maintain personalised calibration for about two months.
In tests involving people with type 1 diabetes and healthy volunteers, the system showed strong agreement with commercial blood glucose meters and continuous glucose monitors. The researchers say that continuous readings of glucose and ketones could be especially useful for people managing diabetes, where day-to-day changes in metabolism can affect insulin needs.
The prototype is not yet ready for consumer use. The UC San Diego team says the ring currently runs for about 12 hours on a charge and still needs work on charging convenience, usability and larger clinical trials. Even so, it points to a broader shift in wearable technology: smart rings may soon be able to read not just physical activity and physiology, but the chemistry of the body itself.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
