Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is evolving fast and next generation of sensors will go beyond the skin. Some will live under it, others will read brainwaves, and a few will not even make contact at all. From implants that measure blood directly to needle-free wearables to breathalyzers, the future of CGMs is focused on simplicity, accuracy, and less daily hassle. Whether you are looking for fewer insertions, longer wear times, or something that feels truly effortless, here are the upcoming systems reshaping glucose monitoring.

Most sensors today read glucose from interstitial fluid, which lags behind blood glucose by several minutes. Glucotrack wants to eliminate that gap by testing directly from the blood. This implantable device sits about 5 cm deep in the subclavian vein and directly measures glucose in the blood, making it one of the first true continuous blood glucose monitors, or CBGM.

The implant is about half the size of a USB drive, weighs around 6.5 grams, and is designed to stay in place for up to three years. The company’s first in-human study in Brazil showed strong early safety and accuracy data with a 7.7 percent MARD, and a larger 30-person study in Australia is now underway. If all goes well, Glucotrack expects a pivotal trial in 2026 and a potential launch by 2028. It is a bold vision that could take accuracy to an entirely new level. We spoke with Glucotrack on the podcast and it was a fascinating interview.

Eversense currently offers the Eversense 365 — a 1-year implantable sensor that requires an external transmitter for glucose monitoring. Its next projects, Gemini and Freedom, are designed to make the system fully self-contained.

Project Gemini introduces a self-powered implant with an internal battery that stores up to eight hours of glucose data. Users can simply scan the site with a phone to download readings, no external patch required. Freedom would build on that idea by embedding Bluetooth directly inside the sensor, allowing glucose data to transmit automatically every five minutes to a smartphone or insulin pump. If successful, it could become the first truly internal Bluetooth-enabled CGM.

Eversense is expanding interoperability with its current CGM. Sequel Med Tech and Senseonics recently announced that the twiist AID System will be the first pump to integrate with the Eversense 365. The integrated system is already being used by a small group and is expected to launch in early 2026 marking Eversense’s first connection with an insulin pump.

Abbott is taking its Libre 3 Plus line beyond glucose. The company is developing a dual glucose-ketone sensor that can measure both metrics in real time. For people with diabetes, ketone tracking can offer early warnings of DKA, giving users another safeguard against dangerous highs.

While details remain limited, Abbott’s multi-analyte platform could set a new standard for comprehensive metabolic monitoring. Dexcom is rumored to be working on a similar sensor, suggesting the next frontier in CGMs will be about context, tracking not just sugar but what is happening around it.

The Biolinq Shine sensor is designed for people with type 2 diabetes who are not on insulin, and it is the first CGM to ditch the traditional insertion needle entirely. Instead, it uses a micro-sensor array that sits just beneath the forearm, about 20 percent shallower than today’s sensors, and it recently received FDA De Novo classification, recognizing it as a novel medical device.

What makes Shine even more eye-catching is its built-in LED ring. The light changes color depending on glucose range, turning your forearm into a real-time visual display. The device also measures activity, sleep, lactate, and ketones, making it one of the most feature-rich wearables in development.

Sava, Trinity Biotech, and One Health Biosensor are also rethinking what a CGM can measure. Instead of focusing on glucose alone, these companies are developing sensors that look at the bigger picture of health.

Sava’s wearable patch uses a microsensor that can track glucose, cortisol, lactate, and ketones, offering a detailed snapshot of stress, energy, and recovery in a single device. Trinity Biotech’s CGM+ takes a similar multi-sensor approach with proprietary needle-free technology that can monitor heart signals, movement, sleep, and body temperature alongside glucose.

From the creators of the One Drop glucose meter, the One Health Biosensor is taking these ideas in a more accessible direction. Designed for people with type 2 diabetes, it uses a micro-needle system that is virtually painless and aims to make real-time glucose tracking more affordable. Together, these innovations point toward a future where CGMs double as full-body wellness monitors, continuously analyzing how daily life affects your health.

SynchNeuro is developing what might be the most futuristic glucose monitor yet, a wearable that uses EEG signals to track blood sugar. The patch, worn discreetly behind the ear, detects changes in brain activity tied to glucose fluctuations and uses algorithms to translate them into trend data.

The company says it is still exploring whether the device will display exact numbers or simply direction and trend graphs. While it is not designed for automated insulin use, it could be a powerful early-warning tool for people with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes. It is the kind of innovation that feels straight out of science fiction and it might not be far off.

Both tech giants are deep in the race to bring glucose sensing to mainstream wearables. Apple’s secretive glucose project has been in development for more than a decade and reportedly uses lasers to send light through the skin, analyzing interstitial fluid without piercing it. It’s said that the technology currently exists in a prototype about the size of an iPhone, with overheating still a challenge, but integration into future Apple Watches seems likely.

Samsung has been developing similar non-invasive glucose tracking for its Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring. The company has publicly confirmed its commitment to blood glucose monitoring, and early reports suggest progress is steady. Even if these systems do not reach full medical-grade precision, they could normalize continuous metabolic tracking for millions.

Developed by PreVent, Issac is the first CGM concept that measures glucose by analyzing breath. It detects acetone, an organic compound linked to glucose metabolism, and converts those readings into real-time data displayed in an app.

The device, first shown at CES 2025, is still in development and undergoing FDA review. PreVent says Issac could eventually alert users to low glucose events while they sleep, potentially worn near the face or neck. It is a completely new way to think about glucose sensing, no skin, no sensors, just a breath away.

The next wave of CGM technology is not just about making sensors smaller or longer lasting, it is about reimagining what glucose monitoring can be. Some of these ideas might sound far-fetched today, but so did wearables a decade ago. What is clear is that innovation in this space is moving faster than ever, and the line between medical tech and everyday health tools is starting to blur.

Watch the video below to learn more about these upcoming CGMs. Do you have any thoughts about these new technologies, or do you think any of them will fail? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Disclaimer: Diabetech content is not medical advice—it’s for educational purposes only. Always consult with a physician before making changes to your healthcare.