Diabetes is a complicated problem both from a therapeutic and a management standpoint. For this challenge, the focus is on managing the disease. Furthermore, the challenge is based on monitoring glucose levels and providing insulin when required. The following list is meant to provide a starting point for your entries.The participants may choose one of the three options given below and go ahead.
Design a way to non-invasively monitor blood glucose (perhaps using optics or Iontophoresis). This would reduce the need for multiple needle sticks and make it easier for people who have this disease.
Devise technologies for people to get the insulin that they need rather than a traditional injection.
Build a calorie counter that enables people to quickly enter the foods and quantities that they are eating and have the calculator running on their mobile or blackberry to tell them what the calorie count is. A software that runs continuously and tracks the calories in order to promote a better diet and healthy lifestyle could be a boon to a diabetes patient who dines out frequently and would like to eat healthier but lacks the ability to evaluate the information quickly and easily.
Devise a Gluco-watch that has to indicate just if your glucose level falls below a critical value and generate a reminder to the person to take their medication.
An inhaled formulation, inhale device, a patch or a slow-flow infusion pump could do the job for people who are in the later stages of the disease.
