Using Data and Design to Beat Diabetes

What’s the Latest Development?

The Data Design Diabetes challenge, organized by Sanofi US, asks participants to bring human-center design and open data to the diabetes community to fight the disease. This year’s semi-finalists include a real-time web-based video platform that allows patients to meet virtually with dietitians and nurses; another mobile health platform allows “patients and doctors to wirelessly collect, aggregate, analyze, and view diabetes-related information”; and a new predictive analysis, which works by assessing risk profile, can give patients treatment that will stop the progression of the disease. 

What’s the Big Idea?

Last year’s winner, Ginger.io, analyzed cell phone usage data to know when patients were feeling down. The application has since collected $1.7 million in seed money, demonstrating the economic weight behind data-driven healthcare technology. And diabetes is certainly an epidemic worth tackling—25.8 million Americans, or 8.3% of the population, currently live with the disease. In May, two finalists for this year’s competition will be chosen and then tested in a community of people living with diabetes. The winner will be awarded $100,000 to develop their product. 

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