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Diabetes can be a burdensome, debilitating disease that requires daily maintenance and attention that can challenge adults. It’s an even bigger burden for children who must check their blood sugar levels daily with a finger stick and go through the process of drawing blood at a lab periodically. But collaborative research at the UNT Health Science Center, UT Dallas, UTA, the Texas Health Research and Education Institute, and Texas Instruments on an e-strip that can measure the equivalent of hemoglobin A1C using saliva may save young patients from a painful step. The small strip is then inserted into a digital reader to read blood glucose levels.

While the test must be done in a physician’s office, eventually the patient may be able to put the test strip on her tongue, then seal the strip in a special mailing envelope and send it to the lab. Diabetic children could avoid a painful process associated with their disease.

The e-strip is being tested on Type 2 diabetes patients at least 10 years of age. The results will be compared to those of the same gender and similar age. Results are expected this summer.

Read the full article in Synergy, UNTHSC’s research annual report.

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