- Rapid blood sugar level drop can cause fits, unconsciousness and death
- But scientists reveal new breath test that identifies when patients at risk
- Could replace the finger prick test that hundreds of thousands use daily
Sophie Borland Health Editor For The Daily Mail
12
View
comments
A breath test that alerts diabetes sufferers if their blood sugar is dangerously low is being developed by Cambridge researchers.
They discovered high levels of a chemical in the exhaled air of those experiencing a rapid fall in blood sugar known as a ‘hypo’. Experts now hope the test will replace the finger-prick test used by hundreds of thousands of patients with the type 1 condition and could be used throughout the day.
Hypos can happen suddenly, triggering a fit, coma or in some cases death. The discovery, outlined today in the journal Diabetes Care, came following a trial of eight women in their 40s with type 1 diabetes.
Doctors have discovered that diabetes patients’ breath contains high levels of a chemical when their blood sugar falls dangerously low
When their blood sugar was low, their breath contained almost double the amount of a chemical called isoprene.
Experts are now developing a breath test capable of detecting isoprene, although it is in the early stages and is unlikely to be available within five years.
However, they hope it will spare patients the ordeal of having to prick their fingers to test their blood sugar levels – which some have to do up to 12 times a day.
An estimated 40,000 adults and children in Britain have type 1 diabetes and it is thought to be genetic, rather than type 2, which is triggered by obesity.
Can 36-point plan reverse symptoms of Alzheimer’s? Doctor…
‘Music is a release valve for feelings’: David Gray under…
If they regularly suffer from hypos, or hypoglycaemia, they are at higher risk of heart disease and brain damage.
Dr Mark Evans, Honorary Consultant Physician at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, University of Cambridge, and colleagues, asked women to a plastic breath bag.
They then lowered their blood sugar levels carefully by injecting them with insulin, which prompts the body to break down the blood sugar.
Women then breathed into the bag again and then all samples were sent to the lab for analysis.
Researchers hope the simple breathaliser could replace the finger-prick test and enable hundreds of thousands of patients with type 1 diabetes to monitor their blood sugar throughout the day
The results showed that when women’s blood sugar was very low, their breath contained almost double the amount of a chemical called isoprene.
Dr Evans is now developing a breath test capable of detecting isoprene, although it is in the very early stages and is unlikely to be available before five years.
He said: ‘It’s our vision that a new breath test could at least partly – but ideally completely – replace the current finger-prick test, which is inconvenient and painful for patients, and relatively expensive to administer.’
He added: ‘Isoprene is one of the commonest natural chemicals that we find in human breath, but we know surprisingly little about where it comes from.
‘We suspect it’s a by-product of the production of cholesterol, but it isn’t clear why levels of the chemical rise when patients get very low blood sugar.’
The breakthrough also explains why it is possible to train sniffer dogs to detect a hypo. With their incredible sense of smell, dogs find it easy to identify isoprene and can be trained to alert their owners about low blood sugar levels.
Share or comment on this article
Bully gets knocked out and humiliated by smaller kid
GRAPHIC Brooklyn woman fights attacker who tried to rape her
‘Stop, stop!’: US cop shouts before firing at suspect in car
Black teen tasered by Wisconsin police at shopping mall
Police say three dead after family dispute lead to shooting
Unlikely friends: Tiger and German Shepard play together
Woman swims near giant crocodile with only a thin plastic…
Soldier returns to surprise his mother after 4.5 years away
Video captures Singapore Airlines Jet burst into flames
Mexican doctor caught on video having clumsy sex in his…
First video showing damage of rollercoaster crash in…
Woman sings the National Anthem at the Lincoln Memorial
What are military UN trucks doing in Virginia? Bemused…
EU leaders REFUSE to start informal talks with Britain and…
Has Britain avoided a ‘European superstate’? France and…
EXCLUSIVE: Daughter gunned down by mom in Texas was due to…
Why did a mother gun down her daughters in horrific Texas…
The hills are alive with the sound of vomit: Wedding…
Can you believe she is FIFTY? Fitness fanatic amazes…
‘Don’t do this. They’re our kids!’ Texas father watched in…
Breaking into homes, assassinating dogs, and even DEFECATING…
Red Cross apologizes for ‘super racist’ pool safety poster…
Passing out at dinner from too many drugs and the chilling…
The Brexit blockers: Bitter losers from all parties gang up…
Comments (12)
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Find out now