Home urine test measures insulin production in diabetics
By ANIFriday, February 25, 2011
WASHINGTON - Scientists have developed a simple home urine test that can measure if patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are producing their own insulin.
The urine test, from Professor Andrew Hattersley’s Exeter-based team at the Peninsula Medical School, replaces multiple blood tests in hospital and can be sent by post as it is stable for up to three days at room temperature.
Avoiding blood tests will be a particular advantage for children.
The urine test measures if patients are still making their own insulin even if they take insulin injections.
Researchers have shown that the test can be used to differentiate Type 1 diabetes from Type 2 diabetes and rare genetic forms of diabetes.
Making the correct diagnosis can result in important changes in treatment and the discontinuation of insulin in some cases.
“The urine test offers a practical alternative to blood testing. As the urine test can be done in the patients own home we hope that it will be taken up more readily, and more patients can be correctly diagnosed and be offered the correct treatment,” Rachel Besser, who has led the studies on over 300 patients, said.
The findings are published in leading diabetes journals, Diabetes Care and Diabetic Medicine. (ANI)
