New breath test could diagnose diabetes in children

A breathalyser that can detect the smell of diabetes in children is being developed by Oxford University researchers.

The device flags up the presence of small traces of acetone - an organic chemical that indicates higher levels of blood ketones - which can be a marker of Type 1 diabetes.

Ketones are released when a lack of the hormone insulin means the body cannot use glucose for energy and starts to break down fat instead.

Currently one in four children with Type 1, or insulin-dependent, diabetes do not know they have the disease until they become severely ill with diabetic ketoacidosis - a ketone build-up.

The device being tested by Oxford University scientists would replace the need for a blood test for diabetes and could give a result within minutes.

Professor Gus Hancock, from Oxford University, said: "Our results have shown that it is realistically possible to use measurements of breath acetone to estimate blood ketones.

"We are working on the development of a small hand held device that would allow the possibility of breath measurements for ketone levels and help to identify children with new diabetes before DKA supervenes. Currently, testing for diabetes requires a blood test which can be traumatic for children."

The study, which was published in the Journal of Breath Research, involved breath samples from 113 children and teenagers between the ages of seven and 18.

Around 300,000 people in the UK have Type 1 diabetes.

Dr Alasdair Rankin, director of research at the charity Diabetes UK, said: "This is a small study so further research will be needed to see whether the breath-based test identified in the study could be used to help diagnose Type 1 diabetes in children."

Main symptoms of Type 1 diabetes:

• Tiredness

• Feeling thirsty

• Losing weight

• Needing to go to the toilet more often.