The Smart Watch is designed to test blood sugar levels

Alan Popejoy, 22, spent more than a year developing his Smart Watch as part of his studies for a Bachelor of Science degree in product design at Nottingham Trent University.

The device, which would be worn around the wrist, triggers an alarm when glucose levels become too high or low.

The invention would eliminate the need for finger pricking.

Rigorous testing

Mr Popejoy, from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, was prompted to design the device because one of his relatives suffers from type two diabetes.

He also believes the watch could help monitor women in the final stages of pregnancy and people who cannot self-test their sugar levels effectively.

"I wanted to design something to help people as I know first-hand the difficulties of living with this condition," he said.

VITAL MONITORING It's good that he's looking into this and that more research is being done to help people with diabetes Natasha Ede Diabetes UK

"Developing medical products is probably the most expensive and challenging task a designer can do because of the rigorous testing involved."

Blood glucose monitoring is a vital tool for controlling diabetes.

Day-to-day control can help maintain normal blood glucose and blood pressure levels, preventing hypoglycaemia and other long-term complications.

Less expensive

Natasha Ede, a diabetes care advisor at Diabetes UK, said finger pricking was still the preferred method of testing sugar levels and devices were available on NHS prescription.

A similar watch device on the market for children and adults is expensive compared with the needles and strips used by most people with diabetes.

But she added: "It's good that he's looking into this and that more research is being done to help people with diabetes."

A prototype model of the watch is going on display at the New Designers Show being held in London next month.