Safesulin — Meagan Wittenberg

Timeline: 12 Week Design Project completed at Carleton University.

Design Problem & Initial Research:

As our population ages, there is an increase in the number of individuals developing dementia
The elderly population also comprises one of the higher percentages of people living with type 2 diabetes
Living with diabetes requires you to take daily medications and monitor blood glucose levels at specific times of the day, which is very difficult for individuals who have issues with their memory
The need: design a solution that can aid elderly patients and their caregivers in completing these daily tasks without putting their health at risk

Solution Must-Haves:

Safety – Must be able to be to ensure the safety of elderly patients and minimize possibility of medicine overdoses.
Target Market – Must target elderly patients suffering from diabetes and dementia, and the family members/caregivers that assist them.
Ergonomic/Anthropometrics – Must be functional and comfortable to use. Will also fit the 5th percentile female to the 95th percentile male.
Ease of use – Needs to be simple to use with a minimal amount of steps.
Product features – Help patients and caregivers keep track of insulin injections with a timer.

Concept Exploration

Insulin Box

Storing the insulin in a lockable box can prevent patients from accessing it themselves from the fridge
Size variations dependent on number of vials needed
$50 price range
ABS plastic (impact resistant, low-cost, durable, lightweight)
Syringe Case Timer

Existing timer technology can be attached to insulin injecting pens
However, there is no solution for patients that continue to use vials/syringes
$34 Price Range
ABS Plastic
Portable Insulin Lock Box

Diabetic patients may need to travel and will need to bring their insulin vials with them
A portable solution with a locking function for patients that can’t remember how often they have injected themselves
$40 Price Range

User Research

After speaking with several caregivers and observing them manage their patient’s medications, I was able to gain a better understanding of the process of administering insulin injections and the barriers around supporting patients with dementia. The major concern was that the patient would access the medication themselves while unsupervised and administer additional doses.

My proposed design solution would keep track of patients' insulin dosages and inform caregivers of previous injections. Insulin vials alone do not pose many harmful risks, however, if both the Insulin and syringes are accessible, this could lead to possible overdoses.