--- title: "Scientists Create “Tea Bag” Implant That Manages Diabetes, Powered by the Body’s Excess Sugar" description: "A team of researchers has come up with an implantable fuel cell that can manage type 1 diabetes — and make use of glucose in the body to power itself instead of relying on an external power source." date: "2023-04-03" modified: "2023-04-03" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/tea-bag-implant-diabetes-body-sugar" categories: - "Health & Medicine" - "Prosthetics and Devices" tags: - "Diabetes" - "glucos" - "health" - "implants" --- # Scientists Create “Tea Bag” Implant That Manages Diabetes, Powered by the Body’s Excess Sugar ![A team of researchers has come up with an implantable fuel cell that can manage type 1 diabetes — and make use of glucose in the body to power itself instead of relying on an external power source.]() *\Image: ETH Zurich/Futurism\* A team of researchers has come up with an [implantable fuel cell]() that they say can manage type 1 diabetes — and make use of glucose in the body to power itself instead of relying on an external power source. The device, devised at ETH Zurich in Basel, Switzerland, can release insulin depending on the patient's blood sugar levels, a task that is conventionally taken care of by an insulin pump attached to the outside of the body. Powering these tea bag-like gadgets is less convenient, as they require a reliable supply of energy from a single-use or rechargeable battery. But what if such a device could be powered by the body's existing excess source of energy instead? "Many people, especially in the Western industrialized nations, consume more carbohydrates than they need in everyday life," said ETH Zurich researcher Martin Fussenegger, lead author of a paper published in the journal *Advanced Materials*, in a [statement](). "This gave us the idea of using this excess metabolic energy to produce electricity to power biomedical devices." Copper-based nanoparticles of the tea bag device split glucose into gluconic acid as well as a proton that forms an electric circuit. A fabric made of alginate, a medical-use-approved material, which is derived from algae, allows the implant to soak up body fluid and provides a steady stream of glucose fuel. Artificial beta cells, which can be stimulated to turn an electrical current into insulin, they say, turn the device into an implantable insulin pump with a virtually unlimited power source. In fact, there's enough power to even have the device communicate with a smartphone, potentially allowing users to easily keep track of blood sugar levels and the device's status. For now, the device is still in the prototype stage, but early tests involving mice already proved successful. The researchers are now looking for an industry partner to turn the device into a reality — potentially a dream come true for those with type 1 diabetes. **More on diabetes:** *[Secret Apple Project Tracks Blood Sugar Using Apple Watch]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()