No finger pricks – New breath analyser to monitor blood sugar

New hope for people with diabetes. Scientists have developed a new technology wherein a simple puff into a handheld device will be able to monitor blood sugar. The device will not only be painless, but also reusable- no finger pricks or expensive test strips.

The sensor device will work like a breath-analyzer, but rather than measuring alcohol, the sensor measures acetone to determine an individual's blood glucose level, according to the lead researcher.
" Acetone is a bio-marker for blood glucose level," explained a researcher.

Researchers began developing the sensor in 2015 through a  two-year grant .

To make the biosensor, the researchers used a technique called molecular imprinting to deposit a polymer layer onto graphene. " The 3D polymer has small cavities that are the same shape and size as acetone molecules," he said. " It works like a filter, allowing only acetone to get through and bind to the graphene".

" Human exhales breath contains more than 3,000 volatile organic compounds resulting from the body's metabolic pathways," he explained. " The sensor detects only acetone and ignores the others. The selectivity is very high".

When the acetone molecules attach to the graphene, it changes the material's electrical properties. " The amount of resistance in the graphene sensing layer changes based on the amount of acetone gas," he said. To test the sensor, he placed it in a chamber into which acetone gas was introduced for 3 seconds.

The sensor detects acetone levels ranging from 0.9 ppm to 10ppm. " The acetone concentrations in the breath of a non-diabetic range from 0.3 to 0.9 parts per million, however, in diabetes, those levels are higher," he explained. Additional electronic components will then convert the measurement to milligrams per deciliter, the standard blood glucometer reading.

Next, he will optimize the sensor's recovery time- how ling the user must wait before taking another reading. " My goal is to make it less than one minute", he said.

Once preliminary evaluations have been completed, the researchers will integrate the sensor into a prototype device that can be tested using human breath.

Researcher in-charge for commercialising project, envisions putting the breath sensor into a smartphone along with an app that enables users to effectively monitor and manage their blood glucose levels. " This new technology promises to be revolutionary".

" If we succeed, it's going to be ' wow'", he said. " This will make life easier for everyone with diabetes".

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/       
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Read more at Speciality Medical Dialogues: No finger pricks – New breath analyser to monitor blood sugar https://speciality.medicaldialogues.in/no-finger-pricks-new-breath-analyser-to-monitor-blood-sugar/

Read more at Speciality Medical Dialogues: No finger pricks – New breath analyser to monitor blood sugar https://speciality.medicaldialogues.in/no-finger-pricks-new-breath-analyser-to-monitor-blood-sugar/

Read more at Speciality Medical Dialogues: No finger pricks – New breath analyser to monitor blood sugar https://speciality.medicaldialogues.in/no-finger-pricks-new-breath-analyser-to-monitor-blood-sugar/

Spontaneous Human Combustion

A little boy has been virtually in flames four times since he was born two-and-a-half months ago. Doctors say it's due to a rare condition called spontaneous human combustion(SHC).

Afflicted with the disorder, seen only in 200 people across the world in the past 300 years, the child is undergoing treatment at a hospital in India.

He was nine days old when he first "caught fire" in the presence of his mother  who watched in disbelief as there was no source of fire in the vicinity. She took him to a hospital from where the baby was discharged three days later. After coming home, he suffered burns again. Doctors say he is a healthy child and his organs are fine. The last time he caught fire was a fortnight ago, and this time it was head to toe," said his mother.

Paediatrician, who is treating him, said the baby emitted some highly combustible gas through the pores of his skin, which made him catch fire. "We have not identified the gas yet," said the Dr.

The case has stunned doctors in the city. There are many theories about the poorly understood condition, ranging from high acetone content in the body to the paranormal. Some doctors say everyone has certain amount of alcohol present in their blood and when its content is high, it combines with the gases in the body; resulting in burns.

"More than 20 years ago, we saw a similar case of a 23-year-old man, but it went undocumented," said the Dr . "Several theories of SHC do the rounds but they are very vague and not backed by scientific proof. Though there is no special cure for the condition, it can be treated like a regular burn injury," he said.

A burns specialist, said it was surprising that it happened to a child in a village, where children are usually breastfed and breast milk, would rarely ever be converted to methane. "A plausible hypothesis for SHC is that some bacteria, such as the methanogenic micro-organism-archaebacteria, in the intestine convert the food into methane, which is a combustible substance," said the Dr.

A small spark, which need not be an obvious one, anywhere nearby, can trigger the fire, said the doctor. "Let us say if the child is covered with a silk cloth which can generate static electricity, the combustible gas and the electricity can cause fire," he said.

"The boy should not be near inflammable substances. It's better if he is kept in a cold place," said the Dr.

ps- this is only for information, but always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication.

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