Dogs Can Detect Hypoglycemia In Diabetic Humans By Just Sniffing Them

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have recently found that dogs have a superior sense of smell that inspires advancement in the medical field. A study revealed that researchers were able to determine that dogs are able to smell the amount of the naturally occurring chemical isoprene in a person's breath during a hypoglycemic attack in people with Type-1 diabetes.

For the study, scientists recruited eight women with Type-1 diabetes, which were controlled under lowered blood sugar levels. They looked for precise chemical signatures using mass spectrometry to detect the presence of certain molecules.

Gizmodo.com reported that as the researchers saw the data, they found that isoprene significantly increased during hypoglycemia, which is the medical term for a low blood sugar level. They also noticed that in some cases, isoprene presence almost doubled.

Some diabetic people have already started using trained service dogs to alert them when their blood sugar is low. A press release from the University of Cambridge mentioned how Claire Pesterfield, a pediatric diabetes specialist nurse at Addenbrooke's Hospital with type 1 diabetes, has trained her golden retriever, Magic, to notify her when her sugar levels have dropped. Magic lets her know when she's in the danger zone by jumping and putting his paws up on her shoulders, Elite Daily reported.

Pesterfield explained to the University of Cambridge how low blood sugar is an everyday threat to her and if it falls too low, which it can do quickly, can be very dangerous. "Magic is incredible. He's not just a wonderful companion, but he's my 'nose' to warn me if I'm at risk of a hypo," she added.

According to The Verge, with this knowledge, the researchers would like to develop a medical sensor that will function like diabetes sniffing dogs. More importantly, this will be a handy breath device that could possibly replace the current finger prick test, which is inconvenient, painful, and expensive.

Plus, of course, it's way cuter.