Daily insulin therapy system aiming for
young type-1 diabetes patients
that provides simple, engaging experience
and a well-connected environment.
___
/ Research & Ideation
Type 1 Diabetes is a non-curable and life-long chronic disease. The patients are dependent on medication
that needs to be admitted multiple times per day throughout their life. This is a big challenge both for patients
and the people around them.
This thesis has design proposals on one of the biggest epidemic in healthcare field. The goal of this project is to
discover the design opportunities in order to re-imagine the experience of a young type 1 diabetes patient.
/ Problems & Objectives
Patient has to interact with too many complex tools and devices including monitoring devices and insulin pumps in daily life.They face more data then needed with an unattractive and highly technical displays.
Diabetes has emotional effects and children tend to be embarrassed and left out, dealing with their condition.
There is a miscommunication between children, parents, caregivers and medical team. It causes distress and concern to be in touch with each other.
Diabetes has emotional effects and children tend to be embarrassed and left out, dealing with their condition.
There is a miscommunication between children, parents, caregivers and medical team. It causes distress and concern to be in touch with each other.
I aimed to create a better experience in three main areas for young patients with T1D. These are;
Product family that meets the daily medication needs of a young patient in simplest form.
Well-connected link between patient and people around them.
Simple and enjoyable user interaction that engages youngs with diabetes.
Well-connected link between patient and people around them.
Simple and enjoyable user interaction that engages youngs with diabetes.
Crony
/System Design
There is a continuous information flow between the system actors. The child has the insulin patch (cgm + insulin pump combined) attached to her skin. The data from the patch is uploaded to data cloud. Caregiver has the control over the patch via smartphone while assisting the child during the school time. Parents can track their child's state from a distance. For periodic controls, the physician can examine the records of the child's diabetes.
/ Patch Tech.
The user should fill the upper container part with insulin which would be withdrawn from a vial. First, the disposable base which has an adhesive surface, should be attached on the skin. Secondly, the bluetooth sensor and the loaded upper container part should be fixed on top. After the physical setup is done, user will activate the device through app.
The upper part contains the needle set up inside and when it is activated the upper container part inserts the cannula (a flexible needle that carries the insulin to body). In this way this therapy session starts which will last for 2 - 3 days until the removal of the patch. [*] non invasive sensor on top of the base uses the technology "reverse iontophoresis".
/ Product Design & UI
Crony shows blood glucose levels (BGL) with facial expressions. They replace the digits to symbolize the BGL. This gamification feature on the interface will change the perception of interacting with a medical device. Especially considering kids and young adolescents, the experience occurs between them and medical device should be more user friendly and engaging comparing to adults.
Crony: Gadget
Taking into consideration that checking the blood sugar 8 - 10 times and injecting insulin 4 - 5 times per day are the most frequent actions that the patient do throughout the day. So minimizing the features of the gadget down to these 2 actions with an engaging and simple interaction will make the user's daily life easier and practical to deal with their condition.
Extensions
Crony offers a number of accessories to let kids engage with their condition in an enjoyable way. Kids can pick body figures and place the gadget inside the gap for head and personalize in their own way. Wristband is a useful extension during activities that requires active movements; running, playing games or swimming. During these active movements when the blood glucose level hardly remains steady, it will keep tracking and connected to the online system.
Crony: App
The digital app links the whole sytem together. It lets actors connect with the devices; patch, gadget and follow the patient's activities. The app synchronizes, customizes, activates and operates the devices.
The data that is captured by the patch, can be monitored instantly from the app. So parents and caregivers can follow the glucose level as well as control over the patient's diabetes actions such as sending the right amount of insulin.
The data that is captured by the patch, can be monitored instantly from the app. So parents and caregivers can follow the glucose level as well as control over the patient's diabetes actions such as sending the right amount of insulin.
THANKS!
Copyright 2018. Umit Can Koralay. All rights reserved.
