A trailblazing Welsh company driving breakthroughs in non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring has been shortlisted for Company of the Year (Under 50 employees) at the Wales Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Awards 2025.
Afon Technology has been named as a finalist for its groundbreaking work in diabetes care, including the development of the world’s first non-invasive wearable blood glucose indicator.
Designed to transform the daily lives of people with diabetes, Glucowear™ eliminates the need for needles in monitoring blood sugar levels.
Worn on the inside of the wrist, the indicator transmits real-time data via Bluetooth to a companion app, which tracks blood glucose trends and provides alerts for high or low levels, as well as insights into overall health patterns.
Being named a finalist highlights the significant impact of the Monmouthshire-based company’s innovative technology, marking a major step forward in accessible, non-invasive diabetes care.
Sabih Chaudhry, CEO of Afon Technology, said: “Being recognised by the Wales STEM Awards is a huge honour for our team.
“Our mission has always been to make diabetes management simpler, safer and completely needle-free, and this nomination reflects the real-world impact our technology is having on people’s lives.”
He added: “We are proud to be leading the way in non-invasive glucose monitoring and demonstrating what Welsh innovation can achieve on a global stage.”
The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday, October 16, at Mercure Holland House Hotel in Cardiff.
Unlike the current continuous glucose monitoring devices, Afon Technology’s non-invasive continuous blood glucose monitoring indicator 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.
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. Afon Technology hopes to win the race to this important milestone.
Preliminary clinical research gives people with diabetes hope that such a device could become a reality in the near future.