Wearable Tool Created for Monitoring Diabetes

Infra–Red (IR) spectra were obtained using a Nicolet iS-50 Fourier transform infrared spectrometer Thermo Fisher Scientific equipped with deuterated triglycine sulfate (DTGS) detector and KBr beam splitter.

Temporal studies were performed using both infrared spectroscopic, dynamic light scattering, and impedimetric spectroscopy to demonstrate stability in detection of analytes, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cortisol, from human sweat in RTILs. The team also determined that their biomarker measurements are reliable with a tiny amount of sweat, just 1 to 3 microliters, much less than the 25 to 50 previously believed necessary. The initial concept for a system level integration of these sensors was done in collaboration with EnLiSense LLC, a startup focused on enabling lifestyle based sensors and devices.

Shalini Prasad, PhD, a professor of Systems Biology Science and senior author of the study, said, “If a person has chronic stress, their cortisol levels increase, and their resulting insulin resistance will gradually drive their glucose levels out of the normal range. At that point, one could become pre-diabetic, which can progress to type 2 diabetes, and so on. If that happens, your body is under a state of inflammation, and this inflammatory marker, interleukin-6, will indicate that your organs are starting to be affected.” The study was published online on May 16, 2017, in the journal Scientific Reports.

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