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N.N. Diabetes Corporation

Date:
To:

November 9, 2015
Dr. Sandi Hubnik
Project Supervisor
From:
Abigail Obregon, Project Manager
Sarah Simental, Project Coordinator
Elizabeth Mansour, Project Analyst
Kevin Korges, Project Analyst
Subject: Needleless Diabetic Care
Purpose
This is our Progress Report on our research that is investigating the purchase of a type
of needleless diabetic care in which our company will recommend to individuals with
fears of needles. On November 2, 2015, Dr. Sandi Hubnik, our project supervisor,
approved the research for the best needle-less diabetic care.
Introduction
On October 19, 2015 Dr. Hubnik asked us to come up with a proposal that informs the
diabetic community, and those associated with them, about the new and innovative
technology in diabetes.
In a 2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report, conducted by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 9% of the United States population has
diabetes. This number does not include those who are not diagnosed and those who
are not treated. The number includes infants all the way up to the elderly; meaning most
of these people must have multiple injections a day to sustain a healthy level of sugar
(CDC). These injections cause some people to have anxiety and worry about the
thought of the pain caused by the needles, or they are afraid of needles in general
(Shakeshaft). The problem with needle usage is that it causes pain, numbness, and in
some cases infection. People who suffer from diabetes are more likely to use needles to
administer insulin because they are cheaper, therefore leaving them with few
alternatives (Shakeshaft). However, new methods have been created to help decrease
the amount of pain and fear of needles. One example would be the jet injector is
needless and administers insulin by placing pressure on the skin and injecting insulin
through the skin.
There are some new forms of treatment that seem too far-fetched for such a simple
problem. An example of this is the insulin pump that requires a catheter in order for
insulin to be administered. Even though it regularly injects insulin when needed, it may

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be an inconvenience for diabetics to keep it hidden and endure the process of installing
the catheter (8 Ways to Take Insulin).
The primary audience for this research is Dr. Sandi Hubnik, our project supervisor, who
will make the decision for our company to use this product and the care providers and
diabetics would be the secondary audience who would be using this product. It is
important for diabetics to be informed of the options available to them in order for them
to choose the method that best fits them and their lifestyles. It is crucial that the
secondary audience is informed of different methods of diabetic care because they are
in charge of helping the diabetic maintain a stable level of sugar intake.
Completed Work
Task 1. Obtain a basic understanding of diabetes and the different types of available
diabetic care
Diabetes is a disease that involves the pancreas where insulin is released to help
maintain appropriate blood sugar levels. When there is too much glucose in the blood,
the pancreas releases insulin to maintain homeostasis. The reason for diagnosing one
with diabetes is that the pancreas is either not producing enough sugar to maintain
equilibrium or the insulin is not being used properly.
According to Glucerna, there are four types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, Gestational,
and Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT), which is also known as Prediabetes. Type 1
diabetes, commonly found in children and adults, occurs when the body is unable to
produce an appropriate amount of insulin. Type 2 diabetes, the most commonly known
form of diabetes found in adults, is a result of the body not sufficiently using the amount
of insulin produced by the pancreas. Type 3 diabetes, Gestational, can result from
pancreatic disease. However, the most common form of Gestational diabetes occurs in
women during pregnancy. When a woman is diagnosed with Gestational diabetes, she
is more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes after giving birth. The last type of diabetes is
IGT, or Prediabetes. This is when the body cannot control glucose levels normally.
However, insulin production is not weakened enough to actually be diagnosed as
diabetes. People with IGT are also at a greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes
(Diabetes 101).
There are many ways to treat diabetes, and some require needles while others do not.
Traditional diabetic care consists of insulin injections, and the use of blood sugar
monitors. Needleless insulin injectors consist of a jet injector, an insulin pump, and a
pump patch. Needleless blood sugar monitors include: a breathalyzer and a sensor.
Task 2. Determine the cost of needleless diabetic care
After gaining a basic understanding of diabetes and the various types of diabetic care
diabetic care available, on October 30, 2015, we determined the cost of each product.
The traditional way of treating diabetes is the use of a needle insulin injector. This may
cost approximately $30 depending upon the brand and its features of the device (BD
Ultra-Fine II Short Needle Insulin Syringe - 1cc 31G 5/16). The device used to monitor

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blood sugar may cost approximately $20 depending upon the brand and its features.
(OneTouch Ultra2 Blood Glucose Monitoring System). We discovered three types of
needleless insulin injectors. The first, the jet injector fires pressure at high speeds into
the skin for a rapid intake of insulin, and costs approximately $220 (Insujet). The
second, an insulin pump, which allows the device to pump insulin when blood sugars
are too high and during mealtime. However, most pumps cost approximately $5500 and
$100 a month for supplies (Insulin Pumps - Diabetes Self-Management). The third, a
pump patch, delivers insulin directly from the patch, without the need of a tube.
Depending on the brand, the cost is approximately $30 per patch and $800 for
installment of the hand held controller (Insulet's Second-Generation OmniPod). We
also discovered two types of needleless blood sugar monitors. The first, a breathalyzer,
allows a diabetic to easily blow on a device to get their blood sugar level. Unfortunately,
this device is still in development, and the cost is yet to be determined. The breathalyzer
will provide individuals with diabetes a more convenient and more accessible device
(Medical News Today). The second needleless blood sugar monitor is a sensor, which
is implanted under the skin to accurately monitor blood sugar levels, costing
approximately $600 (MiniMed Glucose Enlite Sensors 5/bx MMT-7008A). Although
some needleless diabetic care may be costly, they do show great impact on the lives of
those with diabetes.
Task 3. Evaluate the positive and negative effects of needless diabetic care
Needleless diabetic care may have a great impact on the lives of those with Type 1 and
Type 2 diabetes. The majority of these devices have both positive and negative
aspects. The positive aspects include an easier and more convenient way to monitor,
faster to determine blood sugar levels, needleless, and reduce the amount of pain in
most cases. The negative aspects include moderately expensive, inaccurate dosage
with some devices, use of incision in some cases, and fewer options regarding insulin
usage. For many individuals, the fear of pain leads to a high degree of anxiety. These
new innovations help those, especially with this anxiety, to receive the care they need to
treat diabetes.
On November 4, 2015, we decided to remove Task 4, which was to analyze the usage
of needleless care and replace it with assessing the natural remedies used to treat
diabetes. We realized that assessing the usage was more of a statistical viewpoint in
which finding a percentage of those who actually use these products. There are
different ways for individuals to treat diabetes without using expensive devices and that
is the use of natural remedies.
Future Work
We are now completing Task 3 and beginning work on Task 4.

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Task 4: Assess the reactions and experiences of those who have used any diabetic
care
We will conduct primary and secondary research to assess which product is most
popular among consumers. We will ask specific questions about the type of diabetic
care the consumers use, as well as how they feel about diabetic care in general.
Task 5: Analyze natural remedies used to treat diabetes
We will study different reviews of natural remedies used to treat diabetes, as well as
conduct a survey of doctors opinion.
Task 6: Analyze data and prepare recommendation report
We will draft our recommendation report as a group, and send a copy of the document
to each other using Google Docs; therefore, allowing each of us to edit and revise the
final report.
Updated Schedule

Task

Approx. Due Date

1. Research diabetic care

October 26, 2015

2. Cost Analysis

October 30, 2015

3. Evaluate Positives/Negatives

November 4, 2015

4. General Experience/Reactions

November 10, 2015

IC

5. Usage of Needleless Care

November 16, 2015

IC

5. Natural Remedies Analysis

November 16, 2015

IC

6. Prepare Project

November 19, 2015

IC

7. Finalize Project

November 23, 2015

IC

Key

C- Completed
IC- Incomplete
Removed

Conclusion
We have successfully completed tasks 1 through 3: research diabetic care, cost
analysis, and evaluate the positive and negative aspects of the different types of
diabetic care available. We have now begun task 4 in which we will conduct the general

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experiences and reactions of needleless diabetic care. Task 5 consists of analyzing

natural remedies used to treat diabetes. Currently, we are on task to complete the
assessment deadline for finalizing the project on November 23, 2015. In our report, we
will present the week of December 7, 2015; we will include newer needleless products
to inform those who are diabetic, that there are other treatments more convenient than
the use of needles.
Works Cited
8 Ways to Take Insulin. Health Magazine: Is Insulin Right for You? Health Mag.,
N.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
"BD Ultra-Fine II Short Needle Insulin Syringe - 1cc 31G 5/16" - BX 90." BD Ultra-Fine II
Short Needle Insulin Syringe. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Statistics Report:
Estimates of Diabetes and Its Burden in the United States, 2014. Atlanta, GA: US
Department of Health and Human Services; 2014.
Diabetes 101. Glucerna. Abbott Laboratories, 1 Jan. 2010. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
"InsuJet. Spirit Healthcare Ltd. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.
"Insulet's Second-Generation OmniPod." DiaTribe. 28 Feb. 2013. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

"Insulin Pumps - Diabetes Self-Management." Diabetes Self-Management. Jan Chait,

31 Aug. 2006. Web. 09 Nov. 2015.
Medical News Today. MediLexicon International. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.
"Medtronic Minimed Transmitter Adhesive Patch 10/bx MMT-7006." - Medtronic
Minimed. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.
"MiniMed Glucose Enlite Sensors 5/bx MMT-7008A." MiniMed Glucose Enlite Sensors
5/bx MMT-7008A. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.

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"Needle-Free Blood Sugar Testing." EverydayHealth.com. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.

"Needle-Free CGM Could Be Available in 2013 | Diabetes Health." Diabetes Health.
Web. 4 Nov. 2015.
"OneTouch Ultra2 Blood Glucose Monitoring System." Target. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.
Shakeshaft, Lucy. A needle free injection for diabetics. Dailymail.com: Health. Daily
Mail. N.d Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
"Syringe, Pen or Pump? Choosing the Right Insulin Delivery System." Diabetic
Connect. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.