Inspiration
In the US alone, there are nearly 2 million people with Type 1 diabetes. This chronic condition causes the pancreas to produce little or no insulin, meaning that patients require external insulin to survive. However, external insulin administration can lead to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, a potentially life-threatening condition which requires immediate treatment.
Glucose monitoring companies have already developed devices to track blood glucose levels continuously, as well as services that allow caregivers to monitor blood glucose trends in real-time. However, there remains a lack of services that allow patient and caregiver to communicate treatment of hypoglycemia or the need for assistance.
What it does
GlucOverwatch monitors blood glucose values continuously. When low blood glucose is detected, the program sends an SMS message to the patient, asking whether the patient has treated or is in need of aid. If the patient has treated, the program will send an SMS message to a caregiver informing them of treatment; if the patient requests aid, the caregiver will receive a message informing them that their patient requires assistance as soon as possible.
How we built it
GlucOverwatch is written in Python, and uses the open-source pydexcom library, Twilio API, Flask, and ngrok.
Challenges we ran into
- We had difficulty with the Dexcom API at the beginning of the project, and resorting to utilizing pydexcom as an easier and more efficient alternative.
- A lack of prior experience with Flask also caused issues. At certain points in our work, the project was fully functional, but problems with Flask eventually resulted in server failures.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
- With time and knowledge, this project can easily be realized completely, and such a program would be a major boon to the caregivers of diabetics.
What we learned
Python, Twilio, Flask, ngrok
What's next for GlucOverwatch
- Add a web-based monitoring/visualization system
- Securely store and visualize historical data
- GPS location transmission and/or 911 autodialing
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