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What We Did
Dist Prof Chase & team working on low cost pain-free diabetes device under SfTI National Science Challenge and MedTech CoRE (Centre of Research Excellence). The technology is targeted towards Type II Diabetes patients to provide improved care, compliance and outcomes, and thus reduce specialist doctor visits and cost. They are developing a series of devices, including: insulin pumps for Type I and Type II diabetes, but at 20-40x lower cost; non-invasive light-based glucose sensors; and painless needle-free injection systems, this last with the University of Auckland.
They are keen to make the designs open access so costs remain low and the devices can have the maximum impact in reducing the significant economic burden of diabetes on patients and the health system. This work builds off Prof Chase’s and his team’s world leading work in blood sugar control in the ICU and NICU.
Who Was Involved
The research is part of the National Science Challenge on Science for Technological Innovation (SfTI) and MedTech Centre of Research Excellence, and also includes researchers from the University of Otago Christchurch School of Medicine, the University of Auckland Bioengineering Institute, and the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB).
Prof Chase works in collaboration with researchers from the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, Prof Geoff Shaw and Dr Martin de Bock at the CDHB, Dr Jennifer Knopp at UC, and a range of Masters and PhD students.
Why It Matters
Currently, blood glucose level testing and injections are often found to be uncomfortable and irritating, leading to low compliance, poor long-term outcomes, and far higher social and economic cost. These devices will make care easier and more compliant, improving outcomes and reducing cost to both patients and health systems. The current cost of diabetes is estimated at 1-1.5% of GDP, and growing with aging demographics, putting significant strain on healthcare resources, with a particularly heavy impact on Māori and Pasifika peoples.
Learn More
- The media’s interest has also been piqued: www.nzdoctor.co.nz/article/print-archive/engineering-wizards-push-limits-device-design-diabetes-patient-care (subscription needed).
