Managing diabetes is pretty difficult. And it is constant – people with diabetes need to watch what they are eating, get regular checkups and, of course, constantly measure their blood glucose level. This usually involved some kind of a prick or wearing a device. However, a new diabetes monitor, developed at the University of Waterloo can bring significant changes to people living with diabetes.
This next-generation diabetes monitor, which is being developed and finalised into a product form a startup company called OrientaMED, will analyse a patient’s breath. This means that no more needle pricks to check blood sugar levels will be necessary.
This should bring significant improvements in the quality of life to diabetes patients, because pricks can be painful or at least very uncomfortable and annoying. The device itself is about the size of a mobile phone and works in a very simple way – people will be able to pick it up and use it immediately.
Obviously, analysing blood to figure out blood glucose levels makes perfect sense. However, studies have shown that there are distinct biomarkers in the exhaled air that can help devices like this determine the blood glucose level. This breath-based diabetes monitor has a detachable mouthpiece, which directs the exhaled air towards gas sensors that measure breath instantly.
Results appear on the smartphone app, which connects to the device via Bluetooth. Scientists think that this technology can be used to trace other kinds of biomarkers for other diseases, even though now it is being developed to make life of people with diabetes a little bit easier.
OrientaMED already has support from the European Union, Brazil and other health-tech companies. They are now looking into starting trials that should take around 6 months. After that they are expecting a lengthy process of regulatory approval, but it is not unlikely that this next-generation diabetes monitor will become available for purchase in a little over a year.
Nathalia Nascimento, one of the main developers of this diabetes monitor, said: “There are many possible uses for the same technology. So many people are living with diabetes and have to go through an uncomfortable daily routine. Our product is hopefully going to make things a little easier.”
One day diabetes will be cured, but it is unlikely to happen soon. So people who live with diabetes need better management techniques and tools. A breath-analysing blood glucose monitor seems to be a great idea that cannot come to the market soon enough.
Source: University of Waterloo
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