*** The following information is incomplete, as another company has
introduced a non-invasive meter for about $8000. It has been discussed
in the newsgroup. Rumors of other non-invasive (and "non-evasive")
meters abound. I won't be trying to keep this section up to date until
the situation stabilizes. ***

*** Note that as of 2007, we are no closer to having a non-invasive
meter than when I wrote the following over ten years ago. A minimally
invasive meter and two or three continuous meters using embedded probes
exist, but their accuracy leaves a lot to be desired.

There is at least one development project in hot pursuit of a bG monitor
which operates by shining light through flesh (through the thumbnail in
one case) and analyzing the light that passes through. Glucose doesn't
affect light much differently from many other substances in the body, so
this is not an easy task. Some field trials have been done, but the
developers have a way to go to reach acceptable accuracy. A successful
product is far from guaranteed, and may be several years away if it
arrives at all.

One estimate is that such a meter might cost about US$1000. Assuming the
per-check cost is zero, this would pay for itself in 1-2 years for many
patients. Look for the insurance companies to throw up some roadblock to
achieving these savings, at least in the US.