Cited by 47Diabetes Management and ResearchNon-Invasive Vital Sign MonitoringContext-Aware Activity Recognition Systems

Noninvasive Hypoglycemia Detection in People With Diabetes Using Smartwatch Data

Open access
Lehmann, Vera, Föll, Simon, Maritsch, Martin, van Weenen, Eva, Kraus, Mathias, Lagger, Sophie, Odermatt, Katja, Albrecht, Caroline +4 more·2023·Diabetes Care

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To develop a noninvasive hypoglycemia detection approach using smartwatch data. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We prospectively collected data from two wrist-worn wearables (Garmin vivoactive 4S, Empatica E4) and continuous glucose monitoring values in adults with diabetes on insulin treatment. Using these data, we developed a machine learning (ML) approach to detect hypoglycemia (<3.9 mmol/L) noninvasively in unseen individuals and solely based on wearable data. RESULTS: Twenty-two individuals were included in the final analysis (age 54.5 ± 15.2 years, HbA1c 6.9 ± 0.6%, 16 males). Hypoglycemia was detected with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.76 ± 0.07 solely based on wearable data. Feature analysis revealed that the ML model associated increased heart rate, decreased heart rate variability, and increased tonic electrodermal activity with hypoglycemia. CONCLUSIONS: Our approach may allow for noninvasive hypoglycemia detection using wearables in people with diabetes and thus complement existing methods for hypoglycemia detection and warning.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

A prospective single-center study developed a machine learning approach to detect hypoglycemia noninvasively from consumer-grade smartwatch data in adults with diabetes on insulin treatment. The model achieved an AUROC of 0.76 ± 0.07 using wearable data alone, with heart rate, heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, and time as important features.

Key findings

  • Hypoglycemia (<3.9 mmol/L) was detected with an AUROC of 0.76 ± 0.07 solely based on wearable data in 19 of 22 participants who were paired during validation.
  • Important feature categories were time (33.2% relative importance), cardiac features including heart rate and heart rate variability (32.8%), and electrodermal activity (27.3%); motion was less decisive (6.7%).
  • The model associated increased heart rate, decreased heart rate variability, and increased tonic electrodermal activity with hypoglycemia, consistent with known physiological stress responses.
  • Hypoglycemic events occurred most frequently between 2200 and 0200 h in this study.

Methods

  • Prospective, single-center study at the University Hospital of Bern from February 2021 to March 2022, including adults with diabetes on multiple daily injection, pump, or hybrid closed-loop insulin therapy without cardiac arrhythmia, antiarrhythmic drugs, pacemaker, or implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
  • Participants wore a Garmin vivoactive 4S for heart rate variability, heart rate, motion, and time data and an Empatica E4 for electrodermal activity; they used a Dexcom G6 CGM with daily fasting calibrations, collected data for 30 days with optional extension up to 90 days.
  • A decision tree–based ML model used a pairing approach with training, validation, and testing stages; signals were cut into 60-s nonoverlapping sequences, generating 36 interpretable features plus time of day (37 total), with SHAP values used to explain model decisions.

Limitations

  • The paper states the restricted sample size, single-center design, and male predominance limit generalizability; further studies are needed to assess different diabetes types, comorbidities such as severe neuropathy, and hypoglycemia unawareness.
  • The paper notes additional research is required to determine performance and decision making at various levels of hypoglycemia, and it acknowledges a relatively low frequency of hypoglycemic events compared with other studies, though the absolute number exceeded prespecified sample size calculations.
  • Evident from the text: this is a proof-of-concept pilot study, and ML performance is reported for 19 of 22 participants because only 19 were paired during validation.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.2337/dc22-2290

Cites

19 of 19 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

2 of 7 cited sources checked · 2 supported · 0 flagged

  • Premisecitation

    Hypoglycemia causes changes in physiological parameters.

    “Hypoglycemia is a frequent and dangerous complication of diabetes (1), causing changes in physiological parameters (2,3).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [2] Olde Bekkink, 2019, Early detection of hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes using heart rate variability measured by a wearable device, Diabetes Care source
    • cites [3] Koeneman, 2022, Effect of hypoglycemia on heart rate variability in people with type 1 diabetes and impaired awareness of hypoglycemia, J Diabetes Sci Technol source
  • Findingown data

    Increased tonic electrodermal activity was associated with hypoglycemia in the ML model.

    “Feature analysis revealed that the ML model associated increased heart rate, decreased heart rate variability, and increased tonic electrodermal activity with hypoglycemia.”
    • Also stated in: § Results · plain
      “For electrodermal activity, the model associated higher feature values, particularly of the tonic component, with hypoglycemia.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Increased heart rate was associated with hypoglycemia in the ML model.

    “Feature analysis revealed that the ML model associated increased heart rate, decreased heart rate variability, and increased tonic electrodermal activity with hypoglycemia.”
    • Also stated in: § Results · plain
      “Increased heart rate and decreased heart rate variability were associated with hypoglycemia.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Decreased heart rate variability was associated with hypoglycemia in the ML model.

    “Feature analysis revealed that the ML model associated increased heart rate, decreased heart rate variability, and increased tonic electrodermal activity with hypoglycemia.”
    • Also stated in: § Results · plain
      “Increased heart rate and decreased heart rate variability were associated with hypoglycemia.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    For the detection of hypoglycemia (<3.9 mmol/L), the ML model achieved an AUROC of 0.76 ± 0.07 solely based on wearable data.

    “Hypoglycemia was detected with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.76 ± 0.07 solely based on wearable data.”
    • Also stated in: § Results · plain
      “For the detection of hypoglycemia (<3.9 mmol/L), the ML model achieved an AUROC of 0.76 ± 0.07 (Fig. 2A).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Wearable technology can measure the physiological changes associated with hypoglycemia.
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 8
  • May combine two claims. 9
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Hypoglycemia is a frequent and dangerous complication of diabetes.

    “Hypoglycemia is a frequent and dangerous complication of diabetes (1), causing changes in physiological parameters (2,3).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [1] Seaquist, 2013, Hypoglycemia and diabetes: a report of a workgroup of the American Diabetes Association and the Endocrine Society, Diabetes Care source
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The study gathered 95,632 CGM data points, of which 71.4% were in euglycemia (3.9-10.0 mmol/L), 2.3% in hypoglycemia (<3.9 mmol/L), and 26.3% in hyperglycemia (>10.0 mmol/L).

    “We gathered 95,632 CGM data points: 71.4% in euglycemia (3.9–10.0 mmol/L), 2.3% in hypoglycemia (<3.9 mmol/L), and 26.3% in hyperglycemia (>10.0 mmol/L).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The relative importance of feature categories for the ML model's decisions was 33.2% for time, 32.8% for cardiac features, 27.3% for electrodermal activity, and 6.7% for motion.

    “Important feature categories for the ML model’s decisions were time, cardiac features (including heart rate and heart rate variability) and electrodermal activity with a relative importance of 33.2%, 32.8%, and 27.3%, respectively (Fig. 2B). Motion features were less decisive, with 6.7% relative importance on the model output.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    The final analysis included 22 individuals with diabetes on insulin treatment (age 54.5 ± 15.2 years, HbA1c 6.9 ± 0.6%, 16 male).

    “Of 31 included participants wearing both wearables, 22 had two or more hypoglycemic events covered by both wearables and were included in the final analysis (age 54.5 ± 15.2 years, HbA1c 6.9 ± 0.6%, 16 male) (Fig. 1B and Table 1).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Motion decreased in hypoglycemia, but motion features were less impactful on the model output.

    “Finally, the motion features were less impactful as indicated by SHAP values closer to 0, but motion decreased in hypoglycemia nonetheless.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Participants performed daily fasting calibrations to enhance the accuracy of ground truth.

    “Participants were fitted with a CGM system (Dexcom G6) and performed daily fasting calibrations to enhance the accuracy of ground truth.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Of 22 participants, 19 were paired during the validation process, and ML performance is reported for 19 individuals.

    “Of 22 participants, 19 were paired during the validation process. Therefore, we report the ML performance, relative importance, and SHAP values for 19 individuals.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Twenty-one of the 22 included individuals participated for 30 days, and 1 participated for 90 days.

    “Twenty-one of the 22 included individuals participated for 30 days, and 1 participated for 90 days.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationown data

    The number of hypoglycemic events recorded despite open-label CGM emphasizes the need for complementary hypoglycemia detection methods.

    “Of note, the number of hypoglycemic events recorded in the current study despite the use of open-label CGM emphasizes the need for complementary hypoglycemia detection methods.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The study's prospective design using wearable data collected in real-life conditions in individuals with different diabetes types is a strength.

    “The strength of this study is its prospective design using wearable data collected in real-life conditions in individuals with different diabetes types.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Our approach may complement existing methods to detect hypoglycemia, thereby improving self-management and care of people with diabetes.

    “Our approach may complement existing methods to detect hypoglycemia, thereby improving self-management and care of people with diabetes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Wearable technology can measure the physiological changes associated with hypoglycemia.
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The model's associations are consistent with known physiological changes in hypoglycemia, corroborating its robustness.

    “The model’s associations are consistent with known physiological changes in hypoglycemia, corroborating its robustness.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    ML-based approaches using wearable data could improve hypoglycemia prediction in CGM and closed-loop users, as shown previously.

    “In CGM and closed-loop users, ML-based approaches using wearable data could improve hypoglycemia prediction, as shown previously (12).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [12] Cichosz, 2014, A novel algorithm for prediction and detection of hypoglycemia based on continuous glucose monitoring and heart rate variability in patients with type 1 diabetes, J Diabetes Sci Technol source
13 of 13
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Wearable technology can measure the physiological changes associated with hypoglycemia.

    “While wearable technology can measure these changes, machine learning (ML) may be capable of associating them with hypoglycemia.”
1 of 1

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Authors
Lehmann, V., Föll, S., Maritsch, M., van Weenen, E., Kraus, M., Lagger, S., Odermatt, K., Albrecht, C., Fleisch, E., Zueger, T., Wortmann, F., & Stettler, C.
Affiliations
  • University of Bern (CH)
  • ETH Zurich (CH)
  • 2Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
  • University of St.Gallen (CH)
Corresponding author
Stettler, Christoph
Venue
Diabetes Care
Published
2023-02-17
Volume
46
Issue
5
Pages
993-997
ISSN
  • 0149-5992 (ISSN-L)
  • 1935-5548
OpenAlex
W4321183071
Cited by
47
References
19
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 8
FWCI
7.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Diabetes Care (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (submittedVersion)
  • Alexandria (UniSG) (University of St.Gallen) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Innosuisse - Schweizerische Agentur für Innovationsförderung (46917.1 IP-LS)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Research
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Non-Invasive Vital Sign Monitoring
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition › Context-Aware Activity Recognition Systems
Keywords
hypoglycemia detection, diabetes mellitus, smartwatches, wearable sensors, non-invasive monitoring, insulin-treated diabetes, heart rate, heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, continuous glucose monitoring, machine learning
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Blood Glucose, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Humans, Hypoglycemia, Hypoglycemic Agents, Insulin, Male, Middle Aged, Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring

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