diabetes news in ahmedabad mirror

NIDian’s low-cost approach for diabetics

Vazir Nadaph, a final year student, has designed a kit that a nurse will carry to rural areas, a kiosk to check one’s glucose level, and a website for the urban diabetes patient

By Shraddha Singh

Posted On Friday, July 24, 2009 at 03:09:42 AM

Nadaph (inset) has introduced the concept of a nurse called ‘Madhuaasha’ who will carry the kit and keep a regular tab on a patient’s health

Fed up with your umpteen visits to the doctor for a diabetes checkup and diagnosis? A final year product design student of National Institute of Design brings hope for urban and rural patients of diabetes.

Vazir Nadaph’s product-service design concept incorporates a diabetic kit that a nurse will carry to the rural areas, a kiosk where people can check their glucose level, and a website that will cater to the needs of diabetic patients in urban India.

Nadaph, who started work on ‘Project Diabetics’ since last July as part of NID’s student exchange programme with RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, says, “Through my product-service, I want to show that design can be successfully used in the health sector. ”

How the service will work
For the rural patients, Nadaph has introduced the concept of a nurse called ‘Madhuaasha’ who will meet and diagnose the patients and keep a regular tab on their health. The service will be available at a subsidised rate for them.

The nurse will carry a specially-designed diabetic kit, that will have a blood-glucose meter, blood pressure monitor, stethoscope, insulated box for insulins and syringes, first aid kits, section for information leaflets and handouts, data registers and the nurse’s personal stuff.

For the urban patient, Nadaph has designed a website, which will be a user-pay service. On the website, patients can upload their medical history. This info will then be sent to experts in the field who will analyse the data and recommend a prescription.

Here, everything will be delivered to the patient’s home. The patient needs to make only a few routine rounds to the doctors. Patients can also chat and blog with other patients on the site and create awareness.

Nadaph says, “Normally, a diabetic does not take his ailment seriously unless some serious symptoms appear. It’s very important that such people keep a day-to-day tab on their blood-glucose level.”

Nadaph’s project guide and NID faculty Pravin Nahar says, “This project is all about what design can do for the health sector. Nadaph’s project is well-designed and addresses the immediate need to take the treatment and diagnosis of diabetes seriously. This project has great potential as it can lead to multiple options.”

Chalo RMIT

It was Saturday evening when Shweta called to inform me that Portfolio for RMIT Scholarship is to be submitted by Monday morning. Next 36 hours I spend in making the portfolio from scratch. Monday morning submitted the portfolio to Uma ben. That was the beginning of my RMIT journey.

The result was out and I, Mekhala and Shweta got selected from our class. Praveen (co coordinator product design) mailed all the briefs to select, but I was always in favor of project diabetes so I went ahead with the same.

After finishing the prolonged jury time, we all started with the hectic visa process.

The uncertainty was till the last moment. Everyone was unsure whether, he is going to get visa or not. Every morning calling high commission office for update and bugging Catherine was our daily routine. This got over just two days before date of departure.

Meanwhile I finished with all my incompletes and diploma registration. Now everything was set to leave.

I returned to Pune and spend two days there with my parents. Done the money exchange, exchanged Rs.22, 000/- for just five notes in Australian currency. New bag was full of cloths, winter ware.

Sunday evening left to Shweta’s sister’s place in kharghar, place in New Mumbai. Parents were happy but worried for their son. This was the first time when somebody was going out of the country for studies from our family. One could easily make out how proud they were feeling. Bus started to kharghar at 6.00 pm.

I reached around 10 pm to kharghar, Shweta’s sister and Shweta came to pick me up. I got freshened up, had dinner and nice talk with shweta’s parents, kept shweta’s extra luggage in my bag as I had enough space in my luggage.

Next day early morning we started for Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai. We were doubtful about road network and traffic jams of Mumbai, but reached in time.

This was my second flying experience. I kept watching outside the window for the whole journey saw beautiful clouds. The airplane wing was vanishing into the indefinite blue.

Hi There!!!!!!

I am Vazir Nadaph, student of National Institute of Design. Pursuing my Post Graduates diploma program in design, specializing in Product Design. Currently I am working in co-ordination with Dr. Soumitri Varadarajan on project “External Pancreas” a part of campaign project held by him in RMIT University Melbourne. Here I am sharing my experience about the project.