Researchers at UC San Diego have developed CHARM, a smart ring capable of analysing sweat for metabolic biomarkers, potentially revolutionising real-time health monitoring and diabetes management.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego have developed a smart ring that goes beyond heart rate and sleep tracking by analysing sweat for chemical clues linked to metabolism and daily habits. The device, called CHARM, short for Continuous Health Analyzing Ring Module, is designed to send readings wirelessly to a smartphone and to function as a biochemical companion to today’s more familiar fitness rings.
According to the study published in Nature Communications on July 23, 2026, the ring can continuously monitor glucose, ketones, vitamin C, uric acid, lactate and alcohol from sweat drawn out through a passive osmotic process. The team used a flexible hydrogel to help pull sweat into the sensor system, then applied electrochemical sensors to measure the biomarkers. The device can track four of the six markers at one time.
The potential medical value is clearest for diabetes care. In experiments involving people with and without type 1 diabetes, the ring’s glucose readings tracked closely with commercial blood meters, while ketone measurements also matched standard devices closely enough to suggest real clinical promise. The researchers say that could one day help people better adjust insulin use and understand how food, exercise and other daily factors are affecting their bodies.
Even so, the work remains early-stage. The study involved a small trial, and the authors acknowledge that larger clinical testing is still needed. The ring also currently runs for about 12 hours on a charge, and the team says both battery life and the overall design still need refinement before the technology is ready for widespread use. Still, the project points to a shift in wearable computing: from devices that mostly measure physical signals to ones that can also read the body’s chemistry in real time.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
