Developed by researchers at the National University of Singapore and the National University Hospital, The Wrinkle Test identifies a disorder in the sensors, on your skin. And this disorder is caused by several diseases, including diabetes.

A local anaesthetic is applied as cream on the fingers and if the skin does not wrinkle after some time, researchers believe the patient has small nerve fibre disorder, which is caused by diseases that includes diabetes.

A laboratory technologist will then compare the results against a scale of between zero and four.

Zero indicates there is no wrinkling and is a sign the constriction of blood vessels is being impaired. One and two indicates normal wrinkling and three and four is normal.

While doctors said many diseases can cause a disorder on the small nerve fibres on the patients’ skin, diabetes is the most important as about half of diabetic patients in Singapore suffer from some form of the disorder.

Associate Professor Einar Wilder-Smith, Principle Investigator of Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS, said: "The advantage of this test is that it seems to be one of the most earliest and the most common fibre that is attacked by diabetes or other small nerve diseases."

However, this test is not the only method used to identify nerve fibre disorders.

Currently, a nerve disorder can be diagnosed by removing a skin sample which is then tested. But results can take one or two weeks.

With this new test which is almost as accurate, there are clear immediate benefits.

This reduction in time clearly benefits patients like Lisa Khoo.

She does not have diabetes but suffers from a disorder that affects small nerve fibres.

"With skin biopsy it takes time, the results take longer to come and of course it costs more. Well for my experience, I also experienced infection," said Ms Khoo.

And that risk is reduced with the wrinkle test.

Studies show that wrinkling is caused by a constriction of blood vessels.

So a patient with small nerve fibre disorder, has fewer wrinkles, because the disorder disrupts the constriction.

The test is now available at the National University Hospital for S$30. - CNA/vm