This whitepaper discusses about a glucose meter embedded in smartphones for monitoring the blood glucose level of the user, where it acts as a user-friendly device for the patient. SEGD (Smartphone embedded glucose device) represents the patient’s real-time glucose monitoring system. The user takes a glucose test through the smartphone using test strips and the result of the glucose measurement is displayed with the corresponding data. The generated BGM in the SEGD device shall dynamically be sent to the doctor’s phone and doctor can send back the necessary prescriptions after reviewing the complete history of that patient.

1. Innovation in Medical Devices
Embedded Blood Gl ucose Meter
in Smartphones

2. Abstract
Abbreviations
Table of Contents
Market Trends and Challenges
Solution
Best Practices
Common Issues
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3. Abstract
Innovation in Medical Devices - Embedded Blood Glucose Meter in Smartphones | 3
The increasing rate of diabetes among people across the world today and the multifarious risks posed by this
disease creates a huge demand for an effective glucose monitoring system. Diabetes patients are often
advised for consistent self-monitoring of their glucose levels to keep it under control. Blood Glucose
Monitoring (BGM) is an effective way to determine the concentration of glucose in the blood and usually
involves a test-strip for measurement.
This whitepaper discusses about a glucose meter embedded in smartphones for monitoring tthhee bblloooodd gglluuccoossee
level of the user, where it acts as a user-friendly device for the patient. The user takes a glucose test through
the smartphone using test strips and the result of the glucose measurement is displayed with the
corresponding data. The user can dynamically send the glucose measurement results to the registered
physician or doctor through the smartphone via a message. Once the message is sent successfully, the user
gets an acknowledgement.
By viewing the patient’s test results through the message on his phone, the doctor or physician can
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feedback from the doctor and the doctor gets an acknowledgement of the receipt, it will be registered as
Message Log 1 in the Smartphone. Likewise, Message Log 2, Message Log 3...and more, would be registered
corresponding to the communication process.
Diabetes Warning
The Government of India has recommended that people in the age group of 30 and above need to
have regular blood glucose monitoring due to the rising number of cases in the hospitals.
Women who suffer from Type 1 diabetes (the body produces no insulin) are more likely to die as a
result of their condition than men, according to experts in India.
Statistics on the diabetic population in India is tabulated below:
Year
1970
1992
Urban Population Rural Population
2.30%
8.20%
1.50%
2.40%
A repeat survey after five years found an even higher prevalence of the disease in urban areas, at
11.6%.
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4. Abbreviations
S.No
1
2
Innovation in Medical Devices - Embedded Blood Glucose Meter in Smartphones | 4
Acronyms (Page No.) Full Form
SEGD (4)
BGM (5)
Smartphone Embedded Glucose Device
Blood Glucose Measurement
Market Trends And Challenges
The SEGD device (Smartphone Embedded Glucose Device) represents the patient’s real-time glucose
monitoring system. Nowadays, smartphones with blood glucose algorithms are developed for only
measuring blood glucose levels. Whereas, new innovative devices have the ability to measure blood glucose
levels and dynamically send the details to the doctor.
Communication Process Challenges
A proper way of encoding and decoding messages should be defined to ensure on-time delivery.
Communication process between the patient and the doctor should be possible across the globe.
Design and Implementation Challenges
Only patients registered to the doctor should be able to send BGM records and get prescriptions
Multiple patients of the same group* should be mapped to the individual doctors. (* = Type 1 or
Type 2 or Gestational diabetes)
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5. Innovation in Medical Devices - Embedded Blood Glucose Meter in Smartphones | 5
Figure 1. Process of SEGD Device
Acknowledgement 1# - Patient receives the acknowledgement after sending the successful message.
Acknowledgement 2# - Doctor receives the acknowledgement after sending the successful message.
The Patient’s SEGD
BGM Test and Acknowledgement 1
Diagnosing Diabetes through Media and Acknowledgement 2
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Solution
A patient with the SEGD device should register with the visiting hospital that has the facility of a Patient
Real-Time Monitoring System. Once the patient is registered he/she can use the SEGD device.
The glucose level in the blood can be measured by applying a blood sample on the test strip. The generated
BGM in the SEGD device shall, dynamically, or after viewing the complete history of the result taken, be sent
to the doctor’s phone. Once the message is delivered successfully, the patient will get an acknowledgement
regarding the successful delivery of the message.
Once the message is delivered to the doctor, he/she then reviews the complete history of that particular
BGM test, such as time and date, glucose level, before meal or after meal, etc. Then, the doctor will send the
prescriptions (such as change of insulin levels, number of injections per day, diet, follow-ups, etc.). After
sending the diagnosis to the patient, the doctor receives an acknowledgement for the successful delivery of
the message.

6. Innovation in Medical Devices - Embedded Blood Glucose Meter in Smartphones | 6
Message Logs of Patient 1
Message Logs of Patient 2
Figure 2. Message Logs
Message Logs
Message Logs are created when there is a flow of communication between the patient and the doctor.
Acknowledgement #1 and Acknowledgement #2 means that the communication happened between both
and then message logs were stored. The next chain of message logs (Message Log 2, Message Log 3,
Message Log 4….) are also stored as two way communications. The message logs are the evidence for both
the patient and the doctor for future reference.
Process of Acknowledgements and Message Logs
The way of acknowledgement and storing of the logs are critical when compared to simple messages
through a phone. In this process, message logs are created for a double-sided flow of communication. The
checkpoint here is to ensure that the quality of life is more important than technology. The new innovative
techniques will practically eliminate the physical cost of communications. More than billions will benefit by
using this device.
Patient
ACK1
ACK3
ACK4
ACK5
ACK2
Doctor
Message Log 1
Message Log 2
Message Log 3
Figure 3. Graphical illustration of the acknowledgement process
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7. Innovation in Medical Devices - Embedded Blood Glucose Meter in Smartphones | 7
Best Practices
In the real word scenario, the SEGD device is technologically feasible and quite user-friendly for everyone
across the globe. Even uneducated people can use this device with ease, if they know the basic operations of
the device. Control solutions will help the patient to calibrate the SEGD device to know whether it is working
properly or not.
Basic Operations in a SEGD Device
Inserting a valid test strip and applying blood
Sending the results to the receiver (doctor) after successful BGM
Take the medicines/ advice/ guidance after getting the prescription from the doctor
Optimized Technology for a SEGD Device
Cellular Network or Cloud Computing are apt technologies for a SEGD device.
Cellular Network: The communication is from the device to the cellular tower and then to the receiver
through the base station. The advantages are low cost and easy maintenance. The main disadvantage of
this technology is that it is time consuming when the source and destination are far apart.
CClloouudd CCoommppuuttiinngg:: Communication needs internet connection for accessing cloud storage (virtual space).
The advantages are that more data can be stored and the patient can view his/her history anywhere,
anytime. The main disadvantages are that this requires more cost and maintenance.
Many–to- One Relationship
The illustration in Figure 4 explains about the relationships between patients and doctors. Let’s take an
example of Pat 1 and Pat 3. Both may belong to different parts of the world, but suffering from the same
disease – hypoglycemia (Type 1 Diabetes) and are advised by the same doctor, Doc A, who is an expert in
Type 1 Diabetes. Likewise, Pat 2 and Pat 4 are advised by Doc B and Pat 5 and Pat 6 are advised by Doc C.
This relationship also lays the base for the design of the communication system involved.
Patients Doctors
Pat 1
Pat 2
Pat 3
Pat 4
Pat 5
Pat 6
Doc A
Doc B
Doc C
Doc A: Type 1 Expert
Doc B: Type 2 Expert
Doc C: Gestational Diabetes Expert
Figure 4. Many-to-one relationship between patients and doctors
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8. Innovation in Medical Devices - Embedded Blood Glucose Meter in Smartphones | 8
Common Issues
The common issues for implementing a SEGD device may be categorized as
Network setup in the SEGD device
Media Channel Communication through Optic Fiber Cable
Hardware and design setup for the SEGD device
Reliability of the device and the network
Cellular network traffic
Server setup for communication through cloud storage
Conclusion
Diabetes patients across the world are advised by their doctors to follow a certain regime for monitoring their
glucose levels, to keep their conditions in check. Visiting the doctors every time to get their blood glucose
checked and to get their prescriptions revised according to the current condition is very difficult to manage in
today’s times. This creates a need for a real-time glucose meter, which can also communicate with the doctors
to get the reports reviewed and prescriptions revised, without the need of travelling to meet the doctor. SEGD
devices are the most user-friendly way of achieving a healthy lifestyle for the patient, as they require
minimum learnability of the technology, since most of the people are already familiar wwiitthh ssmmaarrttpphhoonneess..
SEGD devices also facilitate two-way communications with doctors in a very effective manner. Data can be
effectively logged in more accurately using these devices and used for managing patient history and future
recommendations. Such innovative devices can go a long way in improving glycemic control among patients
and also reduce the number of visits to hospitals by delaying further medical complications.
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9. Innovation in Medical Devices - Embedded Blood Glucose Meter in Smartphones | 9
This whitepaper is published by HCL Engineering and R&D Services.
The views and opinions in this article are for informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for professional
business advice. The use herein of any trademarks is not an assertion of ownership of such trademarks by HCL nor intended to imply
any association between HCL and lawful owners of such trademarks.
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Reference
Author Info
Arun Kumar Manivannan
HCL Engineering and R&D Services
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_glucose_monitoring
2. Theories of Blood Glucose Levels, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2528930/
3. Theory to real practice, http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/709187