Wearable-Based Dysglycemia Detection and Warning in Diabetes

The research team led by Prof. Felix Wortmann and Prof. Elgar Fleisch from the ETH Zurich and the University of St. Gallen together with researchers Prof. Christoph Stettler, Dr. Thomas Züger, and Dr. Vera Lehmann of the University Clinic for Diabetology, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism (UDEM) were able to successfully obtain an Innosuisse grant for the development of a Smartwatch-based glucose warning system. The overall objective of the RADAR project (“Wearable-Based Dysglycemia Detection and Warning in Diabetes”) is the detection of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia (so-called dysglycaemia) by means of various parameters, which are obtained in real time from a commercially available Smartwatch.

Information such as heart rate and heart rate variability as well as physical activity and diurnal patterns are recorded and analysed using innovative approaches from the field of artificial intelligence. This allows the wearer to be warned early on by the Smartwatch of blood sugar fluctuations in order to avoid hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia, which can lead to serious medical complications.

All this is done non-invasively, i.e. without the need to collect blood or place continuously measuring glucose sensors under the skin. The use of such a warning system is particularly interesting for people with diabetes who cannot or do not want to wear a continuous glucose meter, but still want to be warned in good time of blood glucose excursions and critical situations.