Innovative Saliva-Based Glucose Sensor to Revolutionize Diabetes Monitoring::An innovative device could pave the way for more convenient diabetes monitoring. A prototype sensor that measures glucose levels in saliva could eventually offer a simple, rapid, and painless way for people to monitor their diabetes, according to the King Abdullah University of Science & Tech
Maybe accuracy could be a selling point but it isnt mentioned in the linked article (maybe mentioned in their paper?). Fingerstick-free methods which measure it from surface have relatively lower accuracy. Also what is measures is not the blood but interstitial glucose level so it is delayed. But the correlation and delay of saliva glucose levels against blood glucose levels is also not mentioned. I hope this research can pave the way for something beneficial eventually. Edit: I tried to dig down the original paper but it is paywalled.
It is definitely an interesting idea. I’ve lived through failed promises of glucose readings contact lenses and watches, I’m not sure exactly why they fail but it’s made me pessimistic about things like that. I think anything new will have a hard time competing with current cgms unless it can be worn continuously for a month and/or doesn’t puncture the skin at all. For the type 1 market, patients already have to puncture the skin all the time to deliver insulin and most get used to it. The interstitial fluid measurement seems to be standard for cgms, so it’s on par in that regard.