Skin color detection by digital image processing to compensate deviations in a non-invasive blood glucose estimation

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by abnormal levels of glucose concentration in the blood. To reduce the risk of medical complications associated with inadequate control of diabetes, continuous monitoring of blood glucose levels is necessary. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive technique based on optical methods, so it is a more comfortable, painless, and prick-free method than conventional measuring and reduces the risk of infection in the patient. However, NIRS, like other optical methods, presents an error in the estimation due to the differences between the physical and functional parameters of the skin and tissues of each subject and its interaction with light. This work focuses on the automatic determination of skin tone, one of the factors that interferes with glucose measurement. Deviations due to skin tone parameter in NIRS-based optical blood glucose measurement can be compensated for through image processing.