Early detection and monitoring of diabetes and complications

We have adapted and applied a novel colour magnification method to make facial erythema (perception of venous stasis in the microcirculation) visible in videos of diabetic individuals. Erythema could be quantified and we determined whether the intensity of this “unveiled” facial reddening and its small variations during the blood pulse wave present specific characteristics in diabetic patients

Aim

Our goal is to explore whether these cutaneous variables that are not apparent to the medical professional naked eye (i.e. the invisible facial redness and the variation of this redness due to heart pulsation) could be markers of diabetes and in particular diabetic neuropathy.

The benefit of identifying novel early markers for diabetic complications using patients’ videos recorded with a conventional digital camera lies in the fact that it would prepare the ground for the development of a noninvasive cost-effective solution for early identification of patients who are prone to develop microvascular complications.

This would result in new healthcare strategies to reduce the burden of diabetic complications. Our preliminary data suggests that there is a clear difference in colour distribution between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals.

Participants

Steno Diabetes Center Odense, OUH

Funding

The initial study was funded by the OUH Innovation Fund. Application of further funding for a postdoctoral position is pending.