The Disease and Need:
Diabetes Mellitus (diabetes) is a class of disease where the body cannot control blood glucose concentrations. This disease is caused by a defect in the biological cascade for insulin to regulate blood glucose levels. Insulin stimulates glucose uptake in muscle and adipocytes via translocation of GLUT4 vesicles to the plasma membrane. The type of disruption to this pathway is categorized as either type 1 or type 2.
While normal blood glucose concentrations are 70 to 110 mg/dL, this concentration can spike to approximately 170-180 mg/dL after meals. People with diabetes need to carefully manage their blood glucose because the problems in their insulin pathway can keep their blood glucose levels high for more than three hours after a meal. Because diabetes eliminates the body’s internal control of glucose, blood glucose needs to be measured at least four times daily to properly manage both Type I and Type II diabetes.
Currently, the most reliable method of glucose monitoring is the finger prick glucose meter. The handheld device punctures the skin, drawing a droplet of blood from the fingertip onto an enzymatic strip.
The enzymes on the strip catalyzes the oxidation of glucose from the sample of blood, producing stoichiometric amounts of hydrogen peroxide which can then be measured to give an accurate reading of blood glucose concentration. This method can measure blood glucose levels accurately from 50 mg/dL to 400 mg/dL, the physiological range of blood glucose concentration as well as extremes that may occur due to diabetes. This method is unfavorable because it requires the purchase of expensive disposable test strips. On average, test strips cost $0.75 per strip which adds up to approximately $1000. Additionally, the repeated finger pricks are considered painful and can lead to neuropathy (nerve damage) at the puncture site. The pain limits the number of daily tests the user can endure and thus limits the effectiveness of monitoring. Neuropathy is unfavorable for users that perform tasks which require the use of their hands.
In 2000, there were 171 million people worldwide with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, this number is projected to rise to 366 million by 2030. The number of people with diabetes is increasing due to population growth, aging, urbanization, and the prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity. In 2010 alone, 4 million people in the world died to diabetes. In the US, diabetes care currently takes up roughly 20% of total annual private healthcare spending or 132 billion USD. Thus, a more affordable and less painful solution is needed to the problem of blood glucose monitoring for people with diabetes.
Diabetes Mellitus (diabetes) is a class of disease where the body cannot control blood glucose concentrations. This disease is caused by a defect in the biological cascade for insulin to regulate blood glucose levels. Insulin stimulates glucose uptake in muscle and adipocytes via translocation of GLUT4 vesicles to the plasma membrane. The type of disruption to this pathway is categorized as either type 1 or type 2.
- Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the beta-islet cells of the pancreas are attacked and destroyed by the white blood cells and T cells. As a result of the destruction of beta-islet cells, the body is unable to produce adequate levels of insulin. Various factors may contribute to the likelihood of developing type 1 diabetes, including genetic risk factors and environmental risk factors. Although the symptoms of type 1 diabetes typically appear during childhood or adolescence, some forms of type 1 diabetes develop more slowly and may only be diagnosed in adulthood.
- Type 2 diabetes occurs when the effect of insulin on the body is diminished. This effect is caused by a combination of genetics and lifestyle choices, such as diet and obesity. These factors habituate the body cells to higher levels of insulin in the blood. As a result, higher levels of insulin are required to stimulate the exocytosis of GLUT4 to the membrane in order to regulate glucose concentrations.
While normal blood glucose concentrations are 70 to 110 mg/dL, this concentration can spike to approximately 170-180 mg/dL after meals. People with diabetes need to carefully manage their blood glucose because the problems in their insulin pathway can keep their blood glucose levels high for more than three hours after a meal. Because diabetes eliminates the body’s internal control of glucose, blood glucose needs to be measured at least four times daily to properly manage both Type I and Type II diabetes.
Currently, the most reliable method of glucose monitoring is the finger prick glucose meter. The handheld device punctures the skin, drawing a droplet of blood from the fingertip onto an enzymatic strip.
The enzymes on the strip catalyzes the oxidation of glucose from the sample of blood, producing stoichiometric amounts of hydrogen peroxide which can then be measured to give an accurate reading of blood glucose concentration. This method can measure blood glucose levels accurately from 50 mg/dL to 400 mg/dL, the physiological range of blood glucose concentration as well as extremes that may occur due to diabetes. This method is unfavorable because it requires the purchase of expensive disposable test strips. On average, test strips cost $0.75 per strip which adds up to approximately $1000. Additionally, the repeated finger pricks are considered painful and can lead to neuropathy (nerve damage) at the puncture site. The pain limits the number of daily tests the user can endure and thus limits the effectiveness of monitoring. Neuropathy is unfavorable for users that perform tasks which require the use of their hands.
In 2000, there were 171 million people worldwide with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, this number is projected to rise to 366 million by 2030. The number of people with diabetes is increasing due to population growth, aging, urbanization, and the prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity. In 2010 alone, 4 million people in the world died to diabetes. In the US, diabetes care currently takes up roughly 20% of total annual private healthcare spending or 132 billion USD. Thus, a more affordable and less painful solution is needed to the problem of blood glucose monitoring for people with diabetes.