The Blood Sugar Monitor That Attaches to a DS

[Guest]

Making diabetes less deadly through gaming?

The Blood Sugar Monitor That Attaches to a DS : Read more

 

[Shadow703793]

Pretty cool. Should help out some what for kids with blood sugar problems.

 

[jellico]

Not a bad idea. If the game is compelling enough, this could actually help a lot. The problem with most of these sorts of things is that the associated game is an after thought and, as such, doesn't hold the interest of the target audience long enough to achieve the desired goal. Still, kudos for thinking outside the box.

 

[JohnnyLucky]

May be good for monitoring purposes. Still need to get kids into a proactive mode - exercise and proper diet.

 

[Guest]

Most cases of juvenile diabetes are Type 1 diabetes meaning that the kid's own immune systems turns against their pancreases and kills off the cells that make insulin. It has nothing to do with proper exercise and diet (although once you have type 1 diabetes you need to watch everything you eat so you know how much insulin to inject yourself with).

These are not the fat kids with backnee who play WOW all day long. The fat kids usually don't get diabetes until later in life (Type 2 diabetes) when their pancreases finally gives out after being overworked for decades. And even then they usually don't need to test their blood sugar daily.

I think a lot of kids need to exercise more and eat better however it shouldn't be assumed that the kids this device is targeting are overweight slobs.

 

[Guest]

They should make a Blood Vampire game and let your character "feed" off you. If your blood is healthy, you gain more powers

 

[rodney_ws]

Just another reason I think Nintendo goofed by dropping the GBA slot on the DSi. Yes, they had to at some point... but couldn't they have waited one more generation?

 

[robcope1965]

Even if it only helps a small number of children or even adults, it's a great thing.

 

[sheath]

Or you know, you could take away the dam video game handheld, make your kid eat right, and go outside and exercise/play with friends...

Nvm, that makes way to much sense....carry on

 

[am_inspire]

[citation][nom]sheath[/nom]Or you know, you could take away the dam video game handheld, make your kid eat right, and go outside and exercise/play with friends...Nvm, that makes way to much sense....carry on[/citation]

Juvenile diabetes is Type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune disease. These kids aren't fat, and diet and exercise neither caused, nor will make their diabetes go away. Furthermore, all diabetics must keep careful watch on their blood-glucose levels through frequent monitoring.

The issue here, is compliance in that monitoring among kids, who don't like having to prick their finger over a half a dozen times a day. This is an innovative tool that should help alleviate the problem of uncompliant monitoring, which can result in serious consequences like diabetic comas, and we'll have to see how well it catches on.

As a general rule, though, if you don't know what you're talking about, it's best to keep quiet.

 

[towely]

Except that Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and most likely has nothing to do with lifestyle choices.

 

[totheshed]

[citation][nom]bfase[/nom]Most cases of juvenile diabetes are Type 1 diabetes meaning that the kid's own immune systems turns against their pancreases and kills off the cells that make insulin. It has nothing to do with proper exercise and diet (although once you have type 1 diabetes you need to watch everything you eat so you know how much insulin to inject yourself with).These are not the fat kids with backnee who play WOW all day long. The fat kids usually don't get diabetes until later in life (Type 2 diabetes) when their pancreases finally gives out after being overworked for decades. And even then they usually don't need to test their blood sugar daily.I think a lot of kids need to exercise more and eat better however it shouldn't be assumed that the kids this device is targeting are overweight slobs.[/citation]

Very well said.. I'm impressed. One thing you missed though, a patient that has Juvenile Diabetes is usually born with it. The pancreas doesn't work or simply doesn't work properly. The immune system does not 'turn' on the pancreas. This only occurs when you get a pancreas transplant, and your body sees the donated pancreas as a foreign object that should be killed.

Don't get me wrong, the rest of your point was very well put.

 

[WyomingKnott]

I suspect that some kids would just say to a friend, "Can I have a drop of blood to get this neat in-game reward?"