Diabetics could benefit from data provided by a new device that monitors glucose and insulin levels simultaneously, allowing better management of the disease. The findings are reported in the February 15 issue of Analytical Chemistry, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society. In the laboratory, researchers created the electronic framework for a tiny sensor that could be implanted in the human body. N.M. Tracking insulin levels along with glucose could identify trends and concentrations sooner than is now possible, Wang said. Earlier warning of trouble signs could help diabetics stave off fatigue and more serious complications such as kidney failure and heart disease, he continued.
Hazardous conditions can occur when blood contains either too little or too much glucose.
Glucose sensors and insulin pumps have been used for nearly a decade to measure and remedy imbalances in blood sugar levels. The sensor detects excess glucose while the pump acts as an artificial pancreas - the organ that produces insulin in the body. Another device known as an insulin detector estimates the amount of the hormone in the blood. Combining two types of sensors in such a small device was a complicated task, Wang said. In addition, each must send an electrical signal without interference to a minicomputer that, ideally, can calculate, store and display information, he added.