Innovative diabetes tech firm in Wales celebrates five years of success

A leading Welsh innovator in the field of diabetes technology is celebrating half a decade in business as it edges closer to transforming the realm of continuous glucose monitoring.

Afon Technology opened its doors in 2019 and started creating the world’s first non-invasive wearable blood glucose sensor – a move which is set to make life easier for people with diabetes by removing the need for needles when monitoring blood sugar levels.

This milestone marks a significant achievement for the Monmouthshire-based tech firm as it leads the race in revolutionising blood glucose monitoring.

Companies such as Apple, Samsung and Google are rumoured to have been trying to develop non-invasive blood glucose monitoring, but so far none have been successful.

Sabih Chaudhry, CEO for Afon Technology, said: “I am incredibly proud to celebrate our fifth anniversary. It is a momentous occasion that highlights out resilience, innovation, and dedication to transforming healthcare technology.

“We are grateful for all of the support we have received over the last five years, and we are exciting to continue making a change in the diabetes field.”

As Afon Technology celebrates its anniversary, thousands of healthcare professionals are heading to the Diabetes UK Professional Care Conference in London this week to share insights, best practice and cutting-edge research.

Currently, there are 537 million adults globally living with diabetes. Evidence has shown that the NHS spends £10 billion per year on diabetes, with NHS Wales spending £500 million each year on the condition.

Afon Technology’s non-invasive continuous blood glucose monitoring sensor is worn on the inside of the wrist with or without a watch, and it feeds back to the user’s chosen smart device to display blood glucose data.

Unlike the current continuous glucose monitoring devices, it will measure blood glucose levels in real-time without the need to penetrate the skin at all, making it easier to manage the condition, reducing the risk of diabetes-related complications such as heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and limb amputations.

Sabih Chaudhry added: “We are proud to be at the forefront of innovation. Our mission is to simplify the lives of people with diabetes by eliminating the need for needles in monitoring blood sugar levels.

“This milestone not only marks our journey’s success but also underscores our commitment to making a tangible difference in healthcare technology.”

Preliminary clinical research gives people with diabetes hope that such a device could become a reality in the near future.