What is blood sugar?
Blood sugar is also known as glucose. It is a type of sugar that our bodies use to produce energy. Our bodies produce glucose from the food we eat. This glucose is what gives you the energy to do things like run, play, and think. But to get the glucose from your food into your cells where it can be used, your body needs a hormone called insulin.
Having too much sugar in our bodies is harmful to our health. It can lead to health issues such as diabetes. People with diabetes either don't make enough insulin or their body can't use it properly, which means their glucose levels can get too high, making them sick.
If you’re wondering whether excess blood sugar can be used in a better way, we have an answer to that now. Scientists have discovered a method to generate electricity from blood sugar found in our bodies!
How did scientists generate electricity from blood sugar?
Scientists at the university, ETH Zurich, have developed a method to generate electricity from the human body by placing a fuel cell beneath the skin. The fuel cell changes blood sugar into electricity. This can be used to power small medical devices like insulin pumps and pacemakers.
The fuel cell is made of material that can absorb blood glucose. After entering the fuel cell, the glucose can be connected to a capsule containing artificial cells. These cells are man-made duplicates of the cells in our bodies that produce insulin.
How can this device help humans?
The fuel cells produce electricity from glucose and send it to the capsule, which contains artificial cells. The cells make and release insulin into the bloodstream. This can help control blood sugar levels.
The researchers say this system maintains insulin and blood glucose levels on its own. In the future, it may be used to treat diabetes. While it has been tested successfully in mice, a lot of testing still needs to be done before this device can help diabetes patients in the future.
