VeraLight Inc. is the developer of the non-invasive diabetes-screening device code-named “Scout” and its researchers conducted the study on 322 subjects ranging from 21 to 88 years old with a broad range of skin color. Manufactured in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Scout DS is a simple-to-use device that weighs about 10 pounds and does not require the patient to fast or provide a blood sample but instead uses light directed onto a small area of an individual’s forearm to be able to detect abnormal concentrations of advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

AGEs has been found to correlate well with diabetes and pre-diabetes and are associated with the disease’s serious complications. AGEs are a sensitive metric for the cumulative damage the body endures due to the effects of abnormally high blood sugar and oxidative stress. AGEs harm the proteins that make up the blood vessels, connective tissue, and are thought to be major factors in aging and age-related chronic diseases.
Previous studies have shown that a Scout DS prototype is better than both the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test and the A1C test as a rapid and non-invasive screen for pre-diabetes and type2 diabetes. IGT is a condition that often progresses to type 2 diabetes, therefore its detection is very crucial.
“…results showed a prototype of the device was able to identify 78% more individuals with the IGT form of pre-diabetes than the FPG test, and 47% more than the A1C test.”

This medical device is slated for U.S. market introduction in the second half of 2008 and was previewed for the first time last week at the 67th annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association held at McCormick Place in Chicago. It is able to detect abnormal concentrations of the skin biomarkers known to be associated with diabetes in less than one minute using fluorescent light from an individual’s forearm.

According to Timothy J. Lyons, M.D., a clinical investigator for VeraLight who heads the endocrinology section at the Oklahoma University Health Science Center:
“Considering its excellent speed, convenience and sensitivity, the Scout DS may be ideally suited to detect the more than 70 million individuals worldwide who have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.

VeraLight’s diabetes screening technology represents a critical response to the worldwide diabetes epidemic, making screening more accurate and accessible to everyone at risk for this devastating disease.”

Take note: WITHOUT drawing blood and no overnight fasting prior to testing, unlike the FPG and AIC test.

Wow, non-blood pre-diabetes screening?! I am all for that kind.

The author writes about Snacks for Diabetes and blogs at http://www.daily-diabetic.com/.