Paper-Based Sensor Patch Helps Detect Blood Glucose Levels During Exercise

The sensor patch helps in self testing of glucose levels in the sweat and may help diabeics keep track of their blood glucose levels during exercise.

Highlights

The newly developed paper-based sensor patch could allow diabetics to effectively measure glucose levels during exercise.
The wearable and disposable patch allows for //non-invasive monitoring of glucose in human sweat.
Sweat-based glucose sensing is helpful in managing exercise-induced hypoglycemia.

The sensor patch developed by researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York could allow diabetics to effectively measure glucose levels during exercise.

Choi and fellow researchers have developed and demonstrated a self-powered, wearable and disposable patch that allows for non-invasive monitoring of glucose in human sweat. This wearable, single-use biosensor integrates a vertically stacked, paper-based glucose/oxygen enzymatic fuel cell into a standard Band-Aid adhesive patch.

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‘The disposable paper-based sensor patch measures glucose levels in the sweat and helps in the prevention and management of exercise-induced hypoglycemia.’

"The paper-based device attaches directly to skin, wicks sweat to a reservoir where chemical energy is converted to electrical energy, and monitors glucose without external power and sophisticated readout instruments," said Choi.

Exercise- Induced Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar in diabetic patients is a paradox since diabetes is characterized by high glucose levels in the blood. However, diabetics on insulin or certain oral hypoglycemic drugs and those who exercise can suffer from low blood sugar.

Diabetes and Exercise
Regular exercise especially in type II diabetes not only helps reduce the sugar but also reduces the demand for medication by 20% and helps you stay healthy.

Normal glucose level in the body is between 70 to 110 mg/dL in a fasting state. Level below 70mg/dL is termed as hypoglycemia.

The brain depends on blood sugar as its primary source of energy, hypoglycemia interferes with the brain’s ability to function properly and can cause dizziness, headache, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating and other neurological symptoms.

Diabetes Essentials: Types, Complications, Management & Treatment
Diabetes is a metabolic disease caused by insulin deficiency that leads to high blood sugar levels and several associated complications if left untreated.

When the level of glucose falls below normal, the pancreas reduces the secretion of insulin and later increases the secretion of glucagon. Glucagon increases the glucose level by increasing its production by the liver. If for some reason the glucagon is insufficient, epinephrine is released by the body to increase the blood glucose level. Blood glucose levels in the body are maintained through a balance of insulin-glucagon production.

Self-monitoring of Blood Glucose Levels During Exercise

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Assessing blood glucose levels during a workout or symptoms of hypoglycemia is essential. Most widespread methods for glucose self-testing involve monitoring glucose levels in blood. But at times, these instruments are not suitable for preventing hypoglycemia during exercise.

The underlying process relies on invasive and inconvenient blood sampling, causing the possibility of sample contamination and skin irritation with sweat containing various electrolytes and proteins.
The method needs patients to carry many accessories during physical activity, including lancets, alcohol swabs and a relatively large glucometer.
The technique requires a sophisticated electrochemical sensing technique and sufficient electrical energy, which makes the technique difficult to be fully integrated in a compact and portable fashion.

Testing Glucose Levels During Exercise

Sweat-based glucose sensing is attractive for managing exercise-induced hypoglycemia because the measurement is performed during or immediately after exercise when there is enough sweat to obtain an adequate sample, said Choi.

This potential alleviates shortcomings of conventional non-invasive sweat sensors, which can be hampered by the difficulty of collecting enough sweat for analysis, sample evaporation and the relatively long time required for sample collection.

"The sensing platform holds considerable promise for efficient diabetes management, and a fully integrated system with a simple readout can be realized toward continuous non-invasive glucose monitoring," wrote the researchers.

Reference

Seokheun Choi et al., A Single-Use, Self-Powered, Paper-Based Sensor Patch for Detection of Exercise-Induced Hypoglycemia, Micromechanics (2017) http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/mi8090265.

Source-Medindia