Breath analysis could be blood sugar test

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 25 (UPI) -- A U.S. study suggests breath analysis might become an effective method of non-invasively monitoring a diabetic's blood sugar level.

University of California-Irvine researchers have found a chemical analysis method developed for air-pollution testing could be used to warn diabetics of high blood sugar levels and the need to administer insulin.

The UC-Irvine chemists and pediatricians discovered children with type-1 diabetes exhale significantly higher concentrations of methyl nitrates when they are hyperglycemic.

"Breath analysis has been showing promise as a diagnostic tool in a number of clinical areas, such as with ulcers and cystic fibrosis," said Dr. Pietro Galassetti, a diabetes researcher at the university. "While no clinical breath test yet exists for diabetes, this study shows the possibility of non-invasive methods that can help the millions who have this chronic disease."

Study results appear this week in the early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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