Continuous glucose monitoring often means keeping a device attached to the skin. A new implantable monitor under development could eliminate that part of the routine.

Senseonics announced on Oct. 26 that it has begun the first human study of Freedom, a glucose monitor being developed to track blood sugar for up to a year without anything worn on the body.

Clinical testing will now determine whether the proposed design works safely and reliably.

How Freedom eliminates the external transmitter

Senseonics’ existing Eversense 365 system uses a small sensor implanted beneath the skin of the upper arm for up to 365 days. However, users still wear a rechargeable transmitter secured over the sensor with an adhesive patch changed daily. Glucose readings are sent to a smartphone app and can also appear through compatible Apple Watch apps .

Freedom incorporates a battery and Bluetooth communication technology directly into the implanted sensor.…