Index
General description
DiagnOptics was the first to introduce a technology to noninvasively measure the tissue accumulation of AGEs by means of fluorescence techniques (AGE Reader). Diab-spot features the AGE measurement and combines this with a small number of patient characteristics to calculate the Diab-spot test result. These simple characteristics include questions about other well-known diabetes risk factors, which can be easily answered on the touch screen. Diab-spot yields an immediate screening result on the spot.
Diabetes detection
Diabetes mellitus is now one of the most common diseases globally with an estimated 285 million affected persons worldwide and 344 million persons with pre-diabetes. Each year, another 7 million people develop diabetesI and 3.8 million deaths worldwide are linked directly to diabetes related causes. The estimate is that at least one third of the patients with diabetes is undiagnosed.
Diabetes complications are very common. A large proportion of diabetics (50% or more in some studies) have at least one complication present at the time of diagnosis. In order to reduce diabetes associated complications and mortality there is a great need for screening and monitoring methods to assess the risk of diabetes and diabetic complications. If (pre-)diabetes is detected early, with only lifestyle intervention, or with medication the development of diabetes and its complications can be postponed or even prevented.
Current screening methods
The current methods for diabetes screening are inadequate. Questionnaires are easy to use but score moderate as predictor of (pre-)diabetes and still need confirmation by blood testing as second step. Fasting and non-fasting plasma glucose, and also HbA1c are inconvenient for the patient, because they require a finger prick or blood draw. They also score moderate as predictors of (pre-)diabetes, and there is poor concordance between these different blood tests.
The gold standard for diagnosis of diabetes is an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). This OGTT is not feasible as a screening tool because it requires fasting, multiple blood samples and takes 2 hours per test. Currently there is no generally accepted alternative screening test, or stepwise procedure of tests, for early detection and diagnosis of diabetes.
Clinical value
Diab-spot offers a non-invasive and convenient method for diabetes screening with an immediate screening result on the spot.
Furthermore the detection of (pre-)diabetes patients by Diab-spot is superior to FPG and HbA1c. In a multi-center clinical study in the Netherlands, both sensitivity and specificity of Diab-spot were significantly better than FPG and at least as good as HbA1c.
Diab-spot measurement
The Diab-spot measurement is very easy to perform. The only operator skill required to use the Diab-spot is in the use of the Diab-spot software. The user normally needs very little time to become skilled in obtaining suitable screening results.
Technology
The Diab-spot has a light source which illuminates the skin of the forearm. This light will excite fluorescent moieties in the tissue which will emit light with another wavelength. In the used wavelength band the major contribution in fluorescence comes from fluorescent AGEs linked mostly to collagen, but also to other proteins and lipids. The emitted light is detected using a spectrometer.
By using specific technical adaptations including selection of specific wavelength, modulated or pulsed light sources, a more selective discrimination of specific AGEs can be obtained.
Read more about the technology on the page with information for professionals.
Downloads
Find a distributor in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact DiagnOptics for your enquiries: sales@diagnoptics.com
Diab-spot features the AGE measurement and combines this with a small number of characteristics to calculate the Diab-spot test result. These simple characteristics include questions about the person’s length, weight, age and family history of diabetes, which can be easily answered on the touch screen. Diab-spot yields an immediate screening result on the spot.
