Glucofast : A faster way to track glucose levels
Diabetics around the world have to prick and measure their glucose levels up to 10 times a day, with glucometers that are messy and cumbersome to use, requiring a table-top setting with ample space.
This particularly affects working adults that have to track their glucose levels in an out-of-home setting, which usually draws unwanted attention and can take up to 5 minutes for the entire procedure.
We saw an opportunity to streamline the entire process, making the process of testing blood glucose levels faster and more discreet.
By rearranging and combining the separate components of the traditional glucometer, we aimed to create an all-in-one device that is compact and versatile.
Awarded Finalist in the 2019 Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC).
Refillable test strips and lancet (needle) drum.
Exit holes at the bottom for the lancet and test strip.
A key insight we discovered through our user research was that diabetics prefer to prick the sides of their fingers as this minimizes pain. Because of this, we iterated multiple concepts in sketches and foam models, using ergonomics to guide our form.
As a result, Glucofast’s lancet location is optimized to naturally prick the sides of any finger. We also made it versatile such that the user can choose between single-handed or two-handed usage.
A key design direction for us was to keep the device as discreet and unobtrusive to daily life as possible. Because of this, we chose muted colors that were in line with this ideal.
Being a medical/healthcare device, we also made sure that the materials and finishings conveyed a sense of hygiene and were pragmatically suitable, preventing the growth of pathogens.
