By Admin
Researchers at ETH Zurich in Switzerland have developed a wireless implant that could offer a new way to manage type 2 diabetes by converting excess sugar in the blood into a compound the body can eliminate.
The device, developed by a team led by Professor Martin Fussenegger, uses electricity to trigger a chemical reaction that breaks down glucose, raising the possibility of a drug free approach to managing the condition and obesity.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin or use the insulin it produces effectively. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose move from the bloodstream into cells, where it is used for energy.
In type 2 diabetes, the body becomes resistant to insulin or does not produce enough of it, causing blood sugar levels to rise. If poorly controlled over time, the condition can damage the heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves, and increase the risk of stroke.
Current management includes lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, regular physical activity and weight management, alongside medication when necessary. Some patients require insulin, while others use medicines that help the body regulate glucose or improve its response to insulin.
The new technology takes a different approach. Rather than relying on drugs or insulin to regulate blood sugar, it is designed to remove excess glucose through a chemical process.
According to the researchers, the implant works with a glucose sensor worn on the arm, which monitors blood sugar levels and communicates readings to a smartphone or smartwatch.
When glucose levels rise, particularly after meals, the system activates the implant. A catalyst made from graphite felt coated with tiny gold and platinum particles then converts glucose into gluconate, a compound the body can eliminate through urine.
The system automatically switches off when blood sugar returns to the target range, creating a closed loop designed to respond to changing glucose levels.
Unlike conventional diabetes treatments, the device does not rely on living cells or deliver medication. Instead, it uses electrocatalysis, a process in which electricity drives a chemical reaction.
In experiments involving diabetic mice, the researchers reported that the implant maintained blood glucose within a controlled range for six weeks. The animals also lost weight, while the team observed no signs of tissue damage during the study period.
The findings suggest that the technology could eventually offer another option for managing diabetes and obesity, conditions that are closely linked through insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction.
The researchers see potential for the system in treating “diabesity”, a term used to describe the relationship between type 2 diabetes and obesity. By converting excess glucose into a substance that can be excreted, the device could potentially reduce the amount of sugar available for storage in the body.
However, the findings do not mean that diabetes drugs can now be abandoned. The technology has so far been tested only in mice, and further studies are needed to establish its safety, effectiveness and long term performance in humans.
It also remains unclear how the implant would perform under the varying conditions experienced by people with diabetes, or whether it could provide adequate glucose control on its own.
The study, titled “Wireless electrocatalytic closed-loop system for drug-free management of diabesity”, was published in the journal 'Science' in 2026.
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