DIABETES. Research Findings. August, 2007

Transcription

1 DIABETES Research Findings August,

2 It s difficult to think about the long-term effects of diabetes day-to-day. The long-term impact poorly managing diabetes is difficult to predict and comprehend on a daily basis. Plus, it s scary. Complications of diabetes include: - Amputation - Blindness - Dialysis - Vascular Disease - Stroke - Heart Disease WILL I ve really tried to watch my diet to keep my diabetes under control. I don t want to go blind or have my feet cut off. -- Will DIABETES RESEARCH FINDINGS 2007 Adaptive Path 2 2

3 ... but managing diabetes on a daily basis is fatiguing. Mimicking a healthy pancreas requires diabetics to: Monitor their glucose level several times a day Dose and inject insulin several times a day Count carbohydrates consumed at each meal Monitor exercise and stress levels. Diabetics don t get a break from their illness Living with diabetes is like having a newborn infant for your entire life. It requires daily attention and vigilance. I ve lived with Diabetes for 25 years and there is so much you have to deal with everyday... and it never ends. Sometimes I think that I would rather have had cancer because at least I would have had the possibility for a cure. -- Catherine DIABETES RESEARCH FINDINGS 2007 Adaptive Path 3 3

4 Short-term goals help diabetics stay motivated. Diabetics we interviewed who have clear shortterm goals manage their condition better. They tested their glucose levels more often and exercised more. Elizabeth Starting a Family I d like to try and get pregnant this year. My doctors and I set the goal of keeping my A1C at 7 or lower for 6 months before we start trying. I am shooting for 6.5, though. -- Alice Training for a Marathon Training for a marathon forced me to be a better diabetic. I had to test my glucose levels a lot more with all the running I was doing. -- Elizabeth DIABETES RESEARCH FINDINGS 2007 Adaptive Path 4 4

5 The language of diabetes is based in numbers and scientific terminology. Like any medical condition, diabetes has a language that is based on scientific terminology and numbers. Diabetics have to translate numbers and terms into a language they can understand and act on: Glucose level of = good A1C of 7 = good Translation is a problem Translation makes it difficult for diabetics to know if they are doing a good job at managing their condition on a daily basis % glucose levels 65 carbs 6 units A1C = 7 Bolus DIABETES RESEARCH FINDINGS 2007 Adaptive Path 5 5

6 Numbers don t always tell the complete story. Sometimes the numbers lie The reading from a glucose meter is the result from a single moment in time. A diabetic could be crashing, but their monitor could give a normal reading because current glucose monitors do not provide data over time. DIABETES RESEARCH FINDINGS 2007 Adaptive Path 6 6

7 Current systems require diabetics to predict the future. Calculation = predicting the future Diabetics have to their own judgement plus the information from their devices to calculate the amount of insulin they will need. Check Meter Fragmentation Separate systems are used to monitor glucose and dose insulin. Diabetics have to do the math and use judgement when dosing insulin. Adjust Pump Human Calculate Fragmentation between monitoring and delivery makes it difficult for diabetics to track progress and see data over time. DIABETES RESEARCH FINDINGS 2007 Adaptive Path 7 7

8 Diabetics rely on technology, but want to remain in control. When things go wrong, I blame the pump. -- Catherine While human error is often the cause for mis-dosing, diabetics don t trust technology enough to concede complete control. Diabetics want their judgement involved in the process. I wouldn t want something that did it all for me. I have been living with Diabetes since I was 7 years old - I know my body best. -- Elizabeth DIABETES RESEARCH FINDINGS 2007 Adaptive Path 8 8

9 Design Principle Help Diabetics make better use of their data. Keep Diabetics motivated: Build goals into the system Creating ways for Diabetics to connect day-to-day management to goals will help them stay motivated. Create rewards in the system that reinforce positive behavior without making people feel shame and guilt about the problems they encounter managing their condition. Help people track their progress day-to-day: No numbers! Think of ways to make the translation of data into action easier for Diabetics. Allow the interface to indicate progress and provide feedback. Keep users in control: Continuous monitoring and dosing Connect dosing with monitoring so that diabetics can see the patterns between their glucose levels and the insulin they are injecting. Nancy, a diabetic counselor, wearing her Be your own cause bracelet. Keeping people motivated is key. DIABETES RESEARCH FINDINGS 2007 Adaptive Path 9 9

10 Diabetics have to deal with a lot of stuff... In addition to the typical essential stuff that people carry around like a wallet, a cell phone and keys, diabetics have a host of additional items they are required to carry around in order to manage their condition. Diabetics carry around: Glucose monitor Test Strips Lancet Lancet Needles Extra Insulin Back-up syringes Glucose Tablets Monitoring kit Syringe kit Spare insulin and syringes Alice always carries a large bag in order to hold all the things she needs to manage her condition. Glucose Tablets Spare Test Strips DIABETES RESEARCH FINDINGS 2007 Adaptive Path 10 10

11 ... and a lot of needles. Doctors recommend diabetics test their glucose level 8-10 times a day. Combined with insulin injections, a Type 1 Diabetic who uses syringes or pens will poke themselves with a needle times a day. Average needle pricks: 12-14x per day Monitor glucose level 8-10 times a day Syringe or Pen: Injections 4-5 times per day Cannula for Insulin Pumps inserted once every 3 days Spare Test Strips DIABETES RESEARCH FINDINGS 2007 Adaptive Path 11 11

12 The mid-section and fingertips take a beating. Doctors recommend diabetics inject insulin in an area of the body where there is fat for better absorption. While upper legs and buttocks will work, most people inject insulin in their abdomen/mid-section. Fingertips are the best place to test glucose levels: they give the most accurate reading. Pumpers move the needle site every three days. Aaron s abdomen is scared with track marks from his pump. DIABETES RESEARCH FINDINGS 2007 Adaptive Path 12 12

13 While many Diabetics love their pumps, they all remove them for exercise, showering and sex. The current form factor of a pump is awkward and bulky. The hardware design is reminiscent of an old 80 s pager. Most people put their pump in a pocket -- which requires whatever they wear to have a pocket. Women sometimes put them in their bra but that makes it difficult to read and control discreetly. Tubing on pumps often gets caught on door handles and are awkward in social situations when the tubing is visible. DIABETES RESEARCH FINDINGS 2007 Adaptive Path 13 13

14 ... and for some, the pump is a constant reminder of their condition. Diabetes doesn t define me. Pumps provide Diabetics with greater control and accuracy, but you must keep them on your person. Some Diabetics prefer syringes for this reason. When I had the pump, I didn t know where to put it. I just didn t like having something on my body to constantly remind me that I m Diabetic. -- Elizabeth DIABETES RESEARCH FINDINGS 2007 Adaptive Path 14 14

15 Design Principle Wear it during sex. Bring sexy back Consider smaller, sleeker, more human form factors. Create a device that can be worn in the shower, during exercise... and even sex. Reduce and consolidate the pieces Reduce the number of pieces. Consider consolidating pieces of the management system so that diabetics don t need to carry and keep track of so much stuff. No (or fewer) needles Reduce the number of times a person has to use needles to test their glucose levels or deliver insulin to their body. DIABETES RESEARCH FINDINGS 2007 Adaptive Path 15 15

16 Adaptive Path Team Alexa Andrzejewski Rachel Brune Jesse James Garrett Sebastian Heycke Jamin Hegeman Rachel Hinman Dan Saffer Adaptive Path 363 Brannan Street San Francisco, CA (415) For additional information about this project, please contact: Julia Houck-Whitaker DIABETES RESEARCH FINDINGS 2007 Adaptive Path 16 16

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