A design that turns an iPhone into a single testing and insulin-administration system has won a $10,000 grand prize from the California HealthCare Foundation and Diabetes Mine, a popular information site and interactive forum for diabetics and their families. Two graduate students at Northwestern University created LifeCase & LifeApp, which they describe as a "complete diabetes management system using the phones users already carry... integrating control of glucose meters, insulin pumps and logbooks into a single easy-to-use iPhone interface."
The LifeCase integrates a glucose meter, lancet and test strips into an iPhone case, while the LifeApp software powers the meter, displays recent blood-sugar readings, charts historical data and wirelessly connects with an insulin pump to deliver a dose when needed and control pump settings from the phone. According to the contest judges, "[W]e believe the LifeCase & LifeApp solution is a glimpse of the future; they've taken the integration of diabetes devices to its fullest conclusion."
for more on LifeCase and LifeApp, including a video demonstration:
- see the Diabetes Mine blog post