A simple noninvasive technique that is capable of very accurate and fast
blood analyte, e.g., glucose, level monitoring is provided. Fluctuation
in the levels of glucose and other analytes affect the refractive index
of blood and extra cellular fluid in biological tissue. Given that the
propagation speed of light through a medium depends on its refractive
index, continuous monitoring of analyte levels in tissue is achieved by
measuring characteristics of the tissue that can be correlated to the
refractive index of the tissue. For instance, the frequency or number of
optical pulse revelations that are transmitted through an individual's
tissue of known thickness within a certain time period can be correlated
to an individual's blood glucose level.