NOVAwave
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a metabolic condition that causes glucose (blood sugar) to concentrate in your blood, rather than being absorbed into our body’s cells for energy (DHS, 2016). A build-up of glucose in the blood can cause Ketoacidosis, blurred vision, increased urination, slow healing sores, weight loss, feeling weak/tired, and an increased risk of infections.
How can we diagnose type 2 diabetes in children before it is too late?
Survey
Responses of 21 parents who have children that are elementary school age.
Are you familiar with in school health screenings?
Do you find school health screenings useful/necessary?
What is your basic understanding of diabetes?
Due to a rise in the number of diabetes diagnoses, would you find noninvasive tests such as infrared finger scanning for glucose useful?
Market research
Invasive Glucose Monitor
Draws blood to test glucose leves through a finger prick or a continues glucose monitor that attaches onto the skin.
Non-Invasive Glucose Monitor
Tests glucose through infrared, radio waves, or other methods that are currently going through testing trials for FDA approval.
Design Requirements
- Market Gaps – products are only marketed to people who already have diabetes
- New Technology – Clinical trials for FDA approval are ongoing before release insuring safety and accuracy
- Affordability – Cost needs to be able to cover a school or many schools in a district to help spread funding
- Kid Friendly – Fast tests to ensure that children can sit through them
This is Max
He was diagnosed at age 10 with type 2 diabetes when he was rushed to the hospital because of seizures set on by hyperglycemia (extremely high blood sugar). He now must take special care in what and when he eats. He uses a glucose monitor to track his glucose levels throughout the day.
How could his diagnosis have gone differently?
- Blood glucose checks or urine samples at the doctor’s office
- Parents or teachers could have caught on to possible physical warning signs such as: weight loss, excessive thirst, urination, hunger, blurred vision, extreme fatigue, and irritability.
- Health literacy education on diabetic signs and symptoms
Implementation of glucose screening in schools to help aid families in detecting prediabetic symptoms in early stages.
Sketches
Form Testing
Testing the form and size of prototypes in paper before beginning CAD to determine the design direction.
Monitor Hub
Finger Sensor
Graphics
Graphics for the product and an informative sheet that could be filled out by the school and sent home to parents informing them of the test results of their child and what it means.
Painted Model
3D printed final models were sanded and glued together before being painted and assembled.
“Children will love the whale design. Very interactive and fun to look at”
-Dr. Irwin
