Seeing a Healthy Future
Glucose Vision pre-evaluates meals to improve quality of life for diabetic patients
Diabetes affects millions of Canadians each year, and it can be extremely difficult to manage. With this in mind, three Toronto Metropolitan University students, Liam Bell (Biomedical Engineering), Ashad Muhammed Khan (Electrical Engineering) and Osama Muhammad (Mechanical Engineering) set out to create a smartphone-app that would allow diabetics to more easily manage their carbohydrate and sugar intake.
The app, named Glucose Vision, allows diabetes patients to take a photo of a meal before eating and receive immediate data on its carbohydrate content. This allows for real-time portion adjustments recommended by the app to better regulate blood sugar and more accurately assess required insulin units. The app will also compare blood sugar levels before and after a meal to make future choices easier and safer.
“Now that we’ve launched our website, the Stage Three Esch Award money will be mainly put toward our app development and intellectual property protection costs,” Bell says. “That’s a huge support for our ongoing success.”
Having witnessed the effects of diabetes in a close friend and family members, the Glucose Vision team– who have known eachother since high school, the trio wondered if they could use their skills to make life easier for diabetics.
“Knowing people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, we understood some of the struggles they face,” says Bell. “Those with Type 1 are generally diagnosed at a young age and have to eventually learn to manage their condition on their own. Those with Type 2 are usually diagnosed later in life and can have a steep learning curve. Our app helps both groups make the transition to effective self-management.”
As stage three winners, the Glucose Vision team says the funding provided by the Esch Awards will support the team in striving for success.
“Now that we’ve launched our website, the Stage Three Esch Award money will be mainly put toward our app development and intellectual property protection costs,” Bell says. “That’s a huge support for our ongoing success.”