How a New Breath Test Could Transform Diagnosing Diabetes
- Rebecca Guldberg
- Sep 2
- 2 min read
Diagnosing type 2 diabetes might one day be as easy as breathing into a bag, thanks to promising research led by Penn State engineers.
In a study published in the Chemical Engineering Journal (September 2025 issue), scientists tested a sensor designed to detect acetone—a chemical byproduct of metabolism found in human breath. While everyone exhales acetone, higher levels are linked to diabetes.
How the Study Worked
Researchers recruited 51 adults with type 2 diabetes and 20 healthy volunteers. Each participant exhaled into aluminum foil bags. The experimental sensor was then dipped into the bags, where it measured the acetone levels present in the breath.
The results were striking:
The sensor clearly distinguished people with type 2 diabetes from healthy individuals.
The sensor’s readings also correlated with participants’ blood sugar levels.
This correlation suggests the device may not only serve as a diagnostic tool but could potentially help track blood glucose trends over time—something currently done through invasive blood tests.
Why It Matters
Currently, diagnosing diabetes requires blood draws and lab work. For the 37 million U.S. adults living with diabetes—including the 1 in 5 who don’t even know they have it—a noninvasive breath test could be a game-changer.
“This sensor only requires that you exhale into a bag, dip the sensor in and wait a few minutes for results,” said Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, senior researcher and associate professor of engineering science and mechanics at Penn State.
The research team also noted future applications: integrating the sensor into masks or handheld devices, making it easier to monitor health in real time.
Looking Ahead
The Penn State team’s next steps include refining the technology for everyday use, possibly enabling people to monitor fluctuations in acetone the same way they check blood sugar before and after meals.
“If we could better understand how acetone levels in the breath change with diet and exercise, in the same way we see fluctuations in glucose levels depending on when and what a person eats, it would be a very exciting opportunity to use this for health applications beyond diagnosing diabetes,” Cheng said.
While the test still needs large-scale validation, it represents a bold step toward easier, faster, and noninvasive diabetes care.
Source: Penn State, news release (Aug. 25, 2025); Chemical Engineering Journal, September 2025; HealthDay, Aug. 27, 2025.
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