We recently featured the Simplo glucometer smartwatch on Concept Sunday. A second project, also sponsored by Bayer Healthcare through the Center for Design Research at the University of Kansas, offers a slightly different take on diabetes management. The BayerFlex concept was designed by Taylor Jay and a partner.
The full BayerFlex solution consists of a pocket-sized kit, a smartwatch with built-in glucometer and a smartphone companion app. It aims to provide a better portable solution that allows people with Type 2 Diabetes to always have everything they need at hand.
The smartwatch, very similar in design to an Apple Watch, incorporates a glucometer FlexPod built into the strap. Straps can easily be replaced with ones with different colours (and perhaps eventually with ones offering different FlexPods). The smartwatch app will also remind the user to perform their tests.
The results are sent to the smartphone companion app presumably by Bluetooth or even Wi-Fi. It provides additional data, including a historical graph, a comparison with the last test and information about the next one.
Unlike the Simplo, the BayerFlex smartwatch does not store the testing strips. These are instead found in a pocket-sized kit that also includes a lancet and spare needles.
Much as we saw with the Simplo glucometer smartwatch, a range of additional functions could also be offered. There is no reason that it could not function as many traditional smartwatches by providing a range of message notifications as well as health and fitness tracking.
It remains to be seen if Bayer will bring the BayerFlex or another similar concept to market in the future.
Source : Behance
Bayer announced in Dec. that they were selling their diabetes division to Panasonic.
Panasonic has had a relationship with Bayer in developing their diabetes management products.
I did not know that! And I see that Panasonic will spin it off as Ascensia Diabetes Care.