The use of a portable breath analysis device in monitoring type 1 diabetes patients in a hypoglycaemic clamp: validation with SIFT-MS data

Monitoring blood glucose concentrations is a necessary but tedious task for people suffering from diabetes. It has been noted that breath in people suffering with diabetes has a different odour and thus it may be possible to use breath analysis to monitor the blood glucose concentration. Here, we evaluate the analysis of breath using a portable device containing a single mixed metal oxide sensor during hypoglycaemic glucose clamps and compare that with the use of SIFT-MS described in previously published work on the same set of patients. Outputs from both devices have been correlated with the concentration of blood glucose in eight volunteers suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus. The results demonstrate that acetone as measured by SIFT-MS and the sensor output from the breath sensing device both correlate linearly with blood glucose; however, the sensor response and acetone concentrations differ greatly between patients with the same blood glucose. It is therefore unlikely that breath analysis can entirely replace blood glucose testing.