Toilet-fitted glucose monitoring device ‘could aid diabetes monitoring’

A new glucose monitoring device that analyses urine in the toilet could offer a new and improved means of charting the health of patients with diabetes.

Created by researchers at the Technological Institute of Chihuahua, the Glucosalarm device is a sensor that is placed within the toilet. When urinating, drops will be deposited on the collector and mixed with enzymes that react with the glucose, producing a coloured compound.

The sensor measures the intensity of the colour to calculate the concentration of glucose, before sending the result to a paired smartphone in less than a minute. If the figure is dangerously high, this data can be communicated directly to doctors or carers.

Carlos Bernal, an engineer at the University of Houston, said: "Using the smartphone, the patient can send the results to a doctor, family member or diabetes educator responsible for treatment, so that they are aware of the day-to-day glucose measurement."

The device is designed to be more affordable than existing technology and reduces the need for blood glucose measurement via finger pricks, which can be a painful and prevalent deterrent for many people who fail to keep proper control of the disease.