Skin impedance measurements used for early onset of hypoglycaemia in diabetic patients

Hypoglycaemia is a common danger in patients with diabetes, particularly in Type I insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). During hypoglycaemia, physiological parameter changes occur in patients, due to the sympathetic nervous system, of which the most predominant parameter is sweating. This paper describes the development of a skin impedance meter used to analyse sweating from Type I IDDM patients and aid in detecting early onset of hypoglycaemia. Experimental results have been conducted and tabulated which demonstrate the transient behaviour of the skin during the normal state and during sweating process, with special attention to the linear region of the transient profile. All measurement procedures are automated and stored in a PC including patient history.