Validation of a Portable Blood Glucose Testing Device in Measuring Masticatory Performance

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the possibility of objectively evaluating masticatory performance using a portable blood glucose testing device.
Methods: First, the glucose concentrations of four types of glucose solutions with known concentrations were measured using a spectrophotometer and portable blood glucose testing device. Next, 20 healthy subjects were asked to chew gummy-jelly for 20 seconds and the amount of glucose extraction was measured. The results for the two devices were compared.
Results: The glucose concentration according to the spectrophotometer was very close to the true concentration. On the other hand, the glucose concentration according to the blood glucose testing device was not close to the true value, although a statistically significant linearity was found. In regard to measurement of the amount of glucose extraction, there was a significant difference between the results obtained with the two devices. However, by using a regression line and applying the corrections to the values obtained, the values of the blood glucose testing device could be brought close to the values of the spectrophotometer (y=1.036x−2.491, r=0.994, P<0.01).
Conclusion: From these results, it was concluded that, after applying correction, a portable blood glucose testing device could measure the amount of glucose extraction from chewing gummy-jelly as accurately as a spectrophotometer.