Before Pearl Harbor, my mom's father worked in a shipyard as a skilled worker building ships. After Pearl Harbor, my grandfather was one of those recruited to help repair and/or salvage the vessels damaged and destroyed by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. One alcohol-fueled evening in Hawaii, he got a tattoo -- and he always urged us grandkids not to get one.

I'm not sure how many of the rest have adhered to his words, but I know I have. Indeed, my high school students (many of them already tatted up at 14 and 15) are rather surprised when I tell them I don't have a tattoo -- though they are quite respectful when I tell them why.

That may change, though, if these the inks in this article are ever approved for use, and if I can get the tattoo place in a sufficiently unobtrusive spot.

A tattoo for diabetics that changes colour depending on their glucose levels has been unveiled by scientists.

It is hoped the breakthrough could mean the end of painful daily blood tests for millions with the condition.

The tattoo contains tiny particles of "nano ink" that change colour depending on whether they come into contact with glucose molecules.

If levels are high, the ink appears yellow. If levels of the sugar are low, it turns purple. A healthy level shows up as orange.

There are currently more than 2.5million people with diabetes in Britain and more than half a million people who don't know they have it.

Diabetics need to test their glucose levels regularly and for most this means pricking their finger to draw blood.

The tattoo only has to be a few millimetres across.

The Massachusetts-based Draper Laboratories team accidentally discovered the ink while researching hydration in athletes.

While I can't see these tattoos completely eliminating the need for glucometers, I know that they would possibly cut down on the frequency of the finger sticks that go along with the use of a glucose meter. And I can't help but think that my grandfather would approve of such a tattoo, given the small size and the importance for maintaining good health.

It may, however, be two or more years before human testing trials would lead to approval by the government -- and who knows how long before insurance starts covering them.

Posted by: Greg at 06:13 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 404 words, total size 3 kb.