Predicting Diabetes Earlier and More Accurately

In a groundbreaking development, a new method called SPINA Carb has been introduced, promising reliable and cost-effective diagnosis of diabetes at an early stage. This innovative approach, developed by a team of international researchers led by Dr. Johannes Dietrich from Ruhr University Bochum's Department of Medicine I at St. Josef Hospital in Bochum, Germany, could revolutionise the way diabetes is detected and treated.

The research, published in the Journal of Diabetes, is based on mathematical modelling and requires a simple blood sample taken in the morning before breakfast. The method involves an equation to describe the body's control loop for sugar metabolism, which is then broken down according to a certain variable, resulting in a static disposition index (SPINA-DI).

The SPINA-DI has proven to be more reliable than other calculated markers of glucose metabolism, making it a valuable tool in the early detection of diabetes. In fact, the correlation between SPINA-DI and relevant indicators of metabolic function was observed in all three volunteer groups from the USA, Germany, and India, further supporting its reliability.

The relevant values measured in the blood sample for SPINA Carb are the insulin value and the glucose value. These measurements, combined with the SPINA-DI equation, provide a comprehensive and precise method for diagnosing diabetes.

Diabetes, a condition that sets in gradually, is often difficult to detect at an early stage due to current diagnostic options not being sensitive or specific enough. This has resulted in 30% of people with diabetes remaining undiagnosed. The new method offered by SPINA Carb could fill this gap, providing a cost-effective, precise, and reliable solution.

The theory of dynamical compensation, which suggests that insulin resistance in people with metabolic syndrome is compensated for by the pancreatic beta cells increasing their activity, is further supported by the findings of this research. In computer simulations, the research team proved that the new parameter in SPINA Carb confirms this theory.

The research team includes members from Germany, India, Singapore, and the UK, demonstrating the global impact of this innovative approach. With its potential to complement and, in many cases, even replace more complex established methods, SPINA Carb is poised to make a significant contribution to the field of diabetes diagnosis and treatment.