In the event of hypoglycemia, volatile compounds are present in our breath. Researchers at Cambridge University believe that dogs can detect these molecules.
Blowing on your dog’s nose to find out if you have hypoglycemia is what Cambridge University offers. Published in the journal Diabetes Care, the famous English faculty article explains how certain volatile compounds in the breath can be detected when a patient with type 1 diabetes is hypoglycaemic.
This drop in blood glucose levels can have serious consequences. When blood sugar drops below a certain threshold, tremors and fatigue may appear, even leading to loss of consciousness. In diabetic patients, these symptoms can come at any time. It is therefore crucial to act quickly.
A compound twice as high in hypoglycemia
The scientists’ work focused on 8 women in their forties with type 1 diabetes, that is, their immune system attacks their insulin-producing pancreatic cells. Scientists artificially lowered their blood sugar levels and collected volatile chemicals from the exhaled air.
They found that isoprene, a byproduct of cholesterol production, was twice as high in the breath in hypoglycemia. Scientists currently do not know why this molecule is twice as present when the blood glucose level is low. But this finding could explain why some dogs may be trained to spot warning signs in patients, according to the site from Cambridge University.
A four-legged detector
Claire Pesterfield is a Pediatric Diabetes Nurse at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. She herself has type 1 diabetes. She therefore needs to inject herself with insulin to balance her blood glucose levels. Claire also owns a dog. His Labrador, Magic, has been trained to detect when his blood glucose level is dropping. British scientists believe that dogs can be sensitive to the presence of isoprene. Humans don’t have as strong a sense of smell as their four-legged friends, but dogs can prove to be a real asset in reducing the risk of life-threatening complications in diabetic patients. A video produced by the University of Cambridge shows that Magic is able to wake up his mistress when she is at risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia.
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