Google has developed a contact lens which could put an end to people with diabetes having to draw blood regularly to check their glucose levels.

The lens measures glucose levels in tears and holds out the prospect of people with diabetes no longer having to prick their fingers with needles.

Google says it could take around five years for the product to reach the marketplace.

The contact lens utilises a tiny glucose sensor and a wireless transmitter to monitor blood sugar.

People with diabetes who require insulin need to monitor their blood sugar levels regularly in case they need to adjust their dose.

There are two main categories of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in childhood or early adulthood life, and always requires treatment with insulin injections. It is caused by the body's own immune system destroying the insulin-making cells (beta-cells) of the pancreas.

The other type of diabetes, type 2, usually develops more slowly in adulthood in adulthood. It is progressive and can sometimes be treated with diet and exercise, but often type 2 diabetes may require anti-diabetic medicine and/or insulin injections.

Find out more about diabetes here