Wearable wristband empowers diabetics

Alertgy DeepGluco is a new wearable wristband that has been developed to measure blood glucose and help individuals manage type 2 diabetes. It uses a patented radio frequency sensor to access glucose and other biomarkers directly in the blood. It eliminates the uncomfortable side effects of needles and patches.

The system provides an accurate, non-invasive measurement of blood sugar levels and alerts a diabetic individual through a smartphone application if their blood sugar becomes dangerously low. The device measures levels in real-time, up to 3 times per minute and alerts an individual and family members of any urgent issues.

With this more accessible approach, an individual who wears the device can better manage their diabetes care because they are getting continuous feedback. DeepGluco is unlike existing Continuous Glucose Monitoring devices (CGMs), which only provide blood glucose measurements 30 minutes later and are often cost-prohibitive.

This approach was developed beginning in 2016, after Alertgy’s CEO Marc Rippen saved his wife from going into a low blood sugar induced coma.

Alertgy is one of 10 startups from around the world currently working with the Luminate NY accelerator at NextCorps in Rochester. The goal is to help Alertgy speed the commercialization of the technology. Through Luminate, the company has also been introduced to a medical device OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) that will help commercialize the product.

Alertgy won first place for the most disruptive medical technology in 2021 at the DxPx Conference in Dusseldorf, Germany. The prize, valued at more than $500,000, was sought by 237 applicants throughout the world.

Once approval has been received from the FDA (which is likely to be in 2024), the final DeepGluco product will be similar to a modern smart watch. More information is available on the Alertgy website.