Diabetes is a constant reminder of needles. To check glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c — a blood protein that reflects average sugar over three months), you need regular blood draws from a vein. It's unpleasant, requires a lab, and takes time. And if you live far from a city, every test becomes a major expedition.

The new iGLU 5.0 device changes the game. It's like a tiny flashlight that shines through the skin and measures glucose concentration from the reflected light. This method is called optical spectroscopy — essentially, the device splits light into colors and sees how much sugar each shade "absorbs." The device collects four types of data: fasting glucose, post-meal glucose, random glucose, and glucose after a special sugary drink (glucose tolerance test). Adding average blood pressure, a smart deep-learning algorithm predicts average sugar levels over three months.

The predicted average sugar is then converted to HbA1c using a standard formula. The difference between predicted and actual HbA1c was only 0.3 units, like a thermometer being off by a tenth of a degree. The device requires no calibration and is ready to use right after powering on. It paves the way for instant diagnostics in villages, polar stations, or at home — without pain or waiting.