New Tattoo Could Be Just What the Doctor Ordered

Posted on: WWJ-TV (CBS Detroit)

Diabetics may soon be lining up for a special new tattoo that does “tricks.”

Scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and at the Texas Diabetes Institute are working on a new tattoo that is designed to change color when a person’s blood sugar drops, or when it spikes.

Oakwood Hospital podiatrist, Dr. Debbie Woody told WWJ she thinks it’s a fantastic idea.

“It’s very fascinating and amazing,” Woody says. “It’s really still a few years away. It can actually monitor a patient’s blood sugar.’

Dr. Woody said it’s not going to be a tattoo that is readily visible to the naked eye. A patient would use a “monitoring device” such as a black light to see the color changes. The tattoo is designed to go from yellow to orange to pink depending on whether a patient’s blood sugar is high or low.

“That obviously would have a lot of benefits,” says Woody. “You can decrease the amount of pin sticks you have. Certainly very helpful in children with diabetes. It also allows a diabetic to closely monitor their sugar. They’re going to know if (their sugar) is getting low or high.”

Woody doesn’t think it will ever entirely replace a glucose meter, but it will give constant monitoring which can’t be done now.

Samantha Mueller, who does body piercings at Eternal Tattoo in Eastpointe, said people are already calling her asking for the color changing tattoo.

Mueller said, “One lady just wants to get a little heart, because she’s just sick of poking herself, and her fingers hurt.”

Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office in Las Vegas anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you.  Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com.   The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging:  Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.

Dr. Anthony Ricciardi at the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has completed training in endoscopic/minimally invasive surgery for chronic heel pain and nerve pain, foot and ankle joint replacement for restoring pain free motion, arthroscopic surgery, bunion surgery, fracture repair, flat foot correction, external fixation for complex deformities and extensive experience in peripheral nerve surgery including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and reconstructive surgery of previously failed foot surgical procedures.  In addition to his surgical training Dr. Ricciardi focuses on sports medicine of the foot and ankle through regenerative techniques using the patient’s own blood/platelets for healing chronic foot and ankle problems (pain) as a result of repetitive sport injuries.  This cutting edge technology enables patients to continue training with little or no down time.  Dr. Ricciardi continues to be active in teaching and training other podiatric surgeons on innovative surgical techniques in foot surgery.  Dr. Ricciardi is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and Fellow of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons.  Dr. Ricciardi’s vision is to bring each patient the most current State of the Art Technology and personalized treatment options to meet their Foot and Ankle needs (from conservative care to surgical options).  Dr. Ricciardi believes in quality service and puts his patients first!