Team 21

Autonomous Oral Drug Delivery for the Prevention and Treatment of Nocturnal Hypoglycemia in Diabetics

Team Members: Michael Grapp, Cade Montplaisir, Ty Promreuk, Mauro Robles & Zacha Smith

Team Mentors: William Tyler, PhD - SBHSE
Jessica Weaver, PhD - SBHSE

YouTube Link: View the video link below before joining the zoom meeting

Zoom Link: https://asu.zoom.us/j/85023965722

Abstract

Hypoglycemia is a condition in diabetes in which a patient's blood glucose drops to unsafe levels. It can result in dizziness, loss of coordination, loss of consciousness, and in the most severe cases, death. In fact according to the American Diabetes Association, as many as 1 in 10 Type 1 diabetics will die of hypoglycemia. Half of all hypoglycemic episodes and over half of all extreme hypoglycemic episodes happen while the patient is sleeping. This can be extremely dangerous for the patient as while they are asleep the episode can go unnoticed until it is too late and the patient has become unresponsive. At this time the patient becomes reliant on someone who is nearby to recognize what is happening and administer treatment. Currently injectable glucagon, glucagon nasal sprays, glucose tablets, glucose drinks, and glucose gels are the market standard for treating hypoglycemic episodes. All of these products require either the user or a third party to administer the product manually. Our device’s competitive advantage is the fact that it can deliver glucose to correct a low automatically without user or third party action. Conceptually our product is very simple. Before bed, the user puts the device in their mouth like a retainer. Throughout the night the device receives glucose values from the patients CGM. If the glucose value drops below a specified threshold or trends downward faster than a specified rate, the device activates and dispenses glucose into the user's mouth to be absorbed.