IIT Guwahati develops breakthrough Glycemic Index sensor | Fusion - WeRIndia

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) have achieved a groundbreaking milestone in diabetes management with the development of a reliable and affordable Glycemic Index (GI) sensor.

Led by Prof. Dipankar Bandyopadhyay from the Department of Chemical Engineering, this sensor is designed for point-of-care detection. It enables real-time determination of the GI of different foods, a vital aspect of diabetes management.

The Glycemic Index, known as GI, is a crucial metric for ranking carbohydrate-containing foods based on their impact on blood sugar levels when consumed.

High-GI foods can lead to rapid spikes in blood glucose levels, followed by sharp declines, which can strain the body’s insulin response and increase the risk of type-2 diabetes.

In contrast, low-GI foods play a role in preventing conditions like diabetes, heart disease etc. As fast food consumption surges among the global workforce, the need for a portable device capable of instantaneously assessing and guiding users regarding the GI of their meals becomes apparent.

The point-of-care-testing (POCT) prototype developed by the IIT Guwahati team can determine the GI of common food sources in just about 5 minutes.

They created a composite nanoenzyme by merging gold nanoparticles with alpha-amylase, which effectively breaks down long-chain starch molecules into simpler sugars like maltose at room temperature.

The quantity of maltose produced is then electrochemically detected to categorize food sources into three essential types. These three types are Rapidly Digestible Starch, Slowly Digestible Starch, and Resistant Starch.

In the context of real-time monitoring, the researchers explained that they found that crackers contain the highest proportion of RDS, followed by potato chips, and then brown bread.

Moreover, the researchers have taken a significant step by filing a patent for their creation.

This achievement represents a promising stride toward more effective diabetes management, offering individuals a powerful tool to make informed dietary choices in real-time.

Photo by Andres Carreno on Unsplash (Free for commercial use)

Image Reference: https://unsplash.com/photos/bunch-of-vegetables-RqS7r2CzL68