A new breathalyser device, developed through research at Indiana University (IU), shows promise in enhancing diabetes management.
Isaac by PreEvnt, a subsidiary of Scosche Industries, is a compact and lightweight device designed to be worn on a lanyard.
It delivers accurate blood sugar information using only the user’s breath, providing an alternative to current blood sugar monitoring methods.
The device aims to provide better protection against severe blood sugar fluctuations and assist individuals at risk for Type 2 diabetes in monitoring their blood sugar levels.
The breathalyser technology was developed in collaboration with the Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute at IU Indianapolis.
It draws inspiration from diabetes alert dogs trained to detect hypoglycemia.
IU Indianapolis Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute director and professor at IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, Mangilal Agarwal said: “Our lab was able to successfully identify the specific molecules in breath that correlate with hypoglycemia, which is the ‘scent’ that diabetic alert dogs can detect.
“In addition to identifying these molecules, our lab is testing nanoscale sensors to detect them, while also collaborating with partners to commercialise the technology.”
PreEvnt, in collaboration with IU, developed the Isaac device using sensors from the Nanoz Group to identify breath chemicals correlating with blood glucose levels.
The compounds were identified at IU, and Agarwal’s research team is currently working to qualify the sensor devices in the laboratory setting.
Agarwal’s lab is collaborating with the IU School of Medicine to test and validate the device’s effectiveness in individuals with diabetes, a key step in a broader commercialisation plan.
The clinical trial, overseen by Linda DiMeglio, Edwin Letzter Professor of Paediatrics at the IU School of Medicine, will evaluate its accuracy compared to traditional methods.
DiMeglio said: “Our group’s role is to advise on the clinical aspects, obtaining regulatory approvals, recruiting participants, assisting with data analyses.
“Depending on the study results, we want to be able to bring this device to the broader market quickly, especially in children.
“We see children as young as 1 year old with diabetes in our clinic, which places a real burden on families. Introducing an affordable, non-invasive device for young children would be incredibly beneficial.”
In preliminary research, Agarwal’s lab partnered with a summer camp for children with diabetes in Indianapolis, led by DiMeglio.
Participants contributed early-phase research data for Agarwal’s initial study on the feasibility of blood sugar breathalyser technology.
The lab recently published a study in Nature Scientific Reports, focusing on the clinical validation of pilot study results.
While the breathalyser’s utility as a non-invasive alternative depends on its speed and accuracy, DiMeglio noted its immediate impact might be in supplementing existing methods.
The device could potentially alert users to dangerously low blood sugar levels during sleep and work alongside portable insulin pumps for small dosage adjustments throughout the day.
Agarwal added: “This device has the potential to offer real advantages over current monitoring technology.
“Continuous glucose monitors require insertion into the body to measure interstitial fluid and provide insulin and need frequent replacement.
“Finger pricking, which must be done multiple times a day, is also invasive and often impractical. Non-invasive monitoring in real time can help mitigate these challenges.”
“Everything we’re working on in our lab, we’re working on because we want to solve real-world problems — and the most effective way to get those solutions to people is by taking it to consumers and the market. It’s our desire to make a tangible impact on people’s lives.”
