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According to StrengthFinders, my top five talents are: learner, positivity, strategic, relator, and communication. I chose Andrew, Abraham, Carlee, Carols, and David to form my team. Each of these individuals were selected so our varying strengths could complement one another.  I wanted a team that would not only consider the logistics of rolling out the Gluco-Touch, but I also wanted members who would excite product users as well.

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Chosen for their keen eye. Comprising a team with a member who can spot potential risks and reroute our project's trajectory to avoid these risk would be invaluable .

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Chosen for their research-minded thought process. Gaining a team member who can help our project avoid past mistakes could be key to our achievement.

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Chosen for their aptitude for staying the course. Having a team member who focuses on problem solving, as opposed to problem starting, will be a key asset to our project

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Chosen for their flexibility and organizational strength. Project needs often evolve. Team members who will adapt and plan a new path forward are a necessity.

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Chosen for their capability to turn thoughts into action. Whenever launching a new product, it is important to have the ability to turn abstract thoughts into concrete actions.

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[Untitled photograph of microneedle array]. Retrieved from https://www.kth.se/profile/ribet/page/microneedle-technologies

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[Untiltiled photograph of a Comparison of microneedle with a commercial insertion needle used in a current CGM system]. Retrieved from https://www.kth.se/profile/ribet/page/gluco-touch

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[Untiltiled illustration of the typical implementation of a commercial CGM system]. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs10544-018-0349-6.pdf

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                                                            References

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                                                            References

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Ardell, P. (2019).  A new glucose monitor for diabetics proves virtually painless and even more
accurate.  Retrieved from https://www.kth.se/en/forskning/artiklar/a-new-glucose -monitor-           for-diabetics-proves-virtually-painless-and-even-more-accurate-1.867872. Retrieved from
https://www.kth.se/en/om/fakta

Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan Royal Institute of Technology (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2019,
from https:// https://www.kth.se/en/om
Ribet, F., Stemme, G., Roxhed, N. (2018). Real-time intradermal continuous glucose monitoring
using a minimally invasive microneedle-based system [PDF file]. Biomedical Microdevices,
20. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs10 544-018-
0349-6.pdf

Ribet, F. (n.d.). Gluco-Touch. Retrieved from https://www.kth.se/profile/ribet/page/gluco-touch

Ribet, F. (n.d.). Microneedle-based sensing. Retrieved from https://www.kth.se/profile/ribet
/page/microneedle-technologies

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As a bedside nurse in an intensive care unit, I think the Gluco-Touch would be a wonderful addition. Many of our patient population require strict glucose control and are often on an insulin drip for this reason. This device would allow healthcare providers to safely monitor and trend blood glucose levels without inflicting the pain of hourly, or more frequent, finger sticks. I am however concerned the Gluco-Touch has yet to release pricing for their system. This could be an inhibitor for both hospitals and individual patients.

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A clear con for the Gluco-Touch is the ten-minute delay in glucose readings. If the system allowed for real-time blood sugar monitoring, it would be more advantageous at least in the hospital setting. Additionally, the system will require invasive finger pricks for calibration purposes. If a patient is looking for a painless option, this CGMS cannot fit the bill. Furthermore, there is no cost information available and the product has yet to complete a full clinical trial. Another con I am interested to confirm or deny: is there an increased risk of infection to patients wearing the patch? Is it impregnated with an antimicrobial substance to reduce the risk of exposure to harmful bacteria such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) commonly found on skin?

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Gluco-Touch has some obvious pros. There would be a reduction of pain from less frequent finger sticks. Additionally, this system provides the ability to trend blood glucose levels, allowing for more timely intervention. Although not specifically addressed by the Gluco-Touch creators, I could not help but wonder, if the CGMS is always reading blood sugar levels, would the patient wearing a CGMS have a better understanding of the correlation between the food they eat and the subsequent rise or fall of their blood sugar? Would their understanding be greater than that of a patient who did not have a CGMS? Could Gluco-Touch help a pre-diabetic get back to a healthy hemoglobin A1C? Would wearing this device result in a decreased cost of medication due to less need of supplemental insulin? Needless to say, I think there is more potential for the Gluco-Touch than just less finger sticks.

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“Diabetes mellitus affects 400 million people worldwide and is responsible for approximately 5 million deaths per year. Moreover, 10% of healthcare expenses are currently related to diabetes” (Ribet, n.d.). These were unacceptable numbers to the researchers at KTH. The trio of scientists decided to join forces and create a revolutionary new device: Gluco-Touch. Gluco-Touch is a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS). The team designed a transdermal patch capable of monitoring a patient’s blood glucose, uninterruptedly, via state-of-the-art microneedles (Ribet, n.d.). These practically microscopic needles analyze small amounts of interstitial fluid and produce blood glucose readings. The needles are less than a millimeter in length and are about as thick as a blade of hair (Ribet, n.d.). While there is no video available to see the Gluco-Touch in action, there is an illustration of the system from the KTH website.

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The Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm has lead educational and research endeavors in Sweden since 1887. KTH touts itself as creating an “innovative climate. . . (where) the public and private sectors work together. . . for a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow” (Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan Royal Institute of Technology, 2019). One of their recent innovations, the Gluco-Touch, was highlighted in an article released January 7th, 2019 on the institution’s website. Micro and Nanosytems Doctoral student Federico Ribet, Associate Professor Niclas Roxhed, and Professor Göran Stemmeare at KTH spearheaded the research and design behind the project.