Measuring insulin levels in saliva is a non-invasive way to determine if someone is at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity, new research has indicated.
Academics from UBC Okanagan’s School of Health and Exercise Sciences have found that a simple spit test can detect early metabolic changes linked to obesity and other health risks.
Throughout the study, the team of researchers looked at the health outcomes of 94 adults, all of whom had different body sizes.
Each participant provided saliva samples and underwent a finger-prick blood glucose test after they drank a standardised meal-replacement shake.
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First author Dr Jonathan Little said: “People living with obesity had much higher insulin levels in their saliva than those who were slightly overweight or had lower body weight – even though their blood sugar levels were the same.
“This suggests that saliva testing could be a simple, non-invasive way to identify people at risk of type 2 diabetes before symptoms appear.”
More than 400 million people around the world are affected by type 2 diabetes – a condition diagnosed by high blood glucose levels.
Dr Little said: “Prediabetes conditions – such as insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia – may develop 10 to 20 years before a person is diagnosed.
“If hyperinsulinemia can be detected before blood glucose levels start to rise, people at risk for type 2 diabetes could be identified early, allowing for lifestyle changes and other treatments to be introduced long before glucose levels rise.”
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Hyperinsulinemia can trigger the development of many chronic conditions, such as cancer, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke, prior research has shown.
Co-author Dr Hossein Rafiei said: “The study aimed to help develop a practical non-invasive test for hyperinsulinemia, but they also found an interesting result following the consumption of the meal-replacement drink.”
To read the study, click here.
