Tuesday 24 November 2015

Mexican scientists roll out toilet-based glucose monitoring device

Scientists at Mexico's Technological Institute of Chihuahua are rolling out a glucose-monitoring device, Glucosalarm, that attaches to the toilet to give results. As researchers explore innovative tools for diabetes monitoring, scientists in Mexico are developing a smartphone-based device that can measure glucose in the blood by analyzing urine in the toilet.

Two scientists at the Technological Institute of Chihuahua are rolling out a tool, Glucosalarm, which runs through a smartphone and records daily values of glucose by attaching to the toilet bowl. Patients activate the device's sensor through Bluetooth on a smartphone. After urinating, a few drops are deposited on a collector and mixed with enzymes that react with the glucose, producing a color compound. The sensor then measures the intensity of the color and calculates glucose concentrations, sending results back to a phone in less than a minute, the device's creator, Carlos Bernal, said in a statement.

Glucosalarm could offer an advantage over current screening methods, many of which rely on needles to collect glucose readings. The device eschews the need for more invasive technology and also sends alerts to family, physicians, and in some cases, an emergency number if the result is too high, allowing for more comprehensive monitoring.

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