A group of students from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has developed an innovative solution to address the rising prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Indonesia. The team from the Student Creativity Program for Intellectual Creation (PKM-KC) successfully developed a prototype for an early detection and non-invasive blood glucose monitoring device, known as the Glycemia Breath Analyzer (Glyra). This innovation provides a more comfortable, faster, and less painful alternative to the conventional finger-prick method.
The team comprises students Muhammad Nafal Zakin Rustanto (team leader), Nathanael Satya Saputra, Alfito Putra Parindra, Muhammad Bintang Hidayatullah Marbun, and Mirza Evrizqo Timmerman. The entire development process was carried out under the guidance of Dr. Igi Ardiyanto, a lecturer at the UGM Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM).
According to Muhammad Nafal Zakin Rustanto, the idea behind Glyra originated from Indonesia’s high diabetes prevalence, which currently ranks fifth globally. Based on the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey (SKI), it is estimated that two out of every hundred adults in Indonesia suffer from diabetes mellitus.
“Patients are often subjected to invasive testing methods that require repeated blood sampling, which can be uncomfortable and may cause pain or irritation,” Rustanto explained in a press release on Friday (Oct. 17).
He elaborated that Glyra works by detecting biomarkers or chemical compounds present in exhaled breath. Diabetes mellitus affects the body’s metabolism, and when the body cannot effectively utilize glucose, it turns to fat for energy, a process that produces ketone compounds such as acetone.
“These compounds, along with other biomarkers, are released through the lungs and can be measured as indicators of blood sugar levels,” he explained.
To capture these compounds, Glyra is equipped with six advanced gas sensors, each sensitive to specific biomarkers. The complex data generated by the sensors is processed using Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms to ensure detection accuracy.
Additionally, the device is integrated with the Internet of Things (IoT), allowing examination data to be transmitted and monitored in real-time through a dedicated website.
Team member Mirza Timmerman explained that the development of Glyra has reached approximately 80 percent completion and is planned to be registered for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).
“The hardware prototype has been completed. The physical device, electrical connections, and sensors are all functional. We are currently collecting datasets, as the sensors and AI require real data for training. So far, our training used secondary data available online,” he said.
Although this was the team’s first participation in the Student Creativity Program, Timmerman shared that the development process went smoothly, thanks to the strong support of the faculty and the university.
“Team synergy was easy to achieve because everyone took responsibility for their roles. We also received support from our respective faculties, from Universitas Gadjah Mada itself, and funding from the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs (Belmawa),” he added.
The Glyra team hopes that their innovation can offer a more affordable, practical, and accessible solution for early screening and daily monitoring of diabetes.
Supported by funding from the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs (Belmawa), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, the research is expected to advance from the prototype stage to further clinical testing.
Author: Salwa
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Salma
Photographs: PKM-KC Glyra Team