GlucoGuardian

Mobile application created for MelaninMD to bridge the healthcare gap for people of color with Diabetes.

My Role

UX Researcher, UI Designer

Methods

Competitive Audit, User Journey Map, Directed Storytelling, Feature Cards, Kano Analysis, Site Flow Diagramming, Wireframing, Interactive Prototyping, Usability Testing

Tools Used

Figma/Figjam, Miro

UX Process

Why GlucoGuardian?

Opportunity Space

With GlucoGuardian:

  • Users will have the power to manage their health by finding easy-to-use tools and resources that meet all their needs for diabetic health.

  • GlucoGuardian will present advocacy resources, culturally sensitive food recommendations, and help finding care providers.

Client: MelaninMD

Founded by two former medical professionals, the MelaninMD company seeks to create equality within healthcare spaces and give people of color the resources they need to remain healthy.

Understanding User Needs

Primary Users

  • Goals: Seeking to manage their condition efficiently in order to avoid complications and sustain a high quality of life.

Secondary Users

  • Goals: Regulate their blood sugar levels for a healthy pregnancy and to revert to a non-diabetic state post-pregnancy.

  • Goals: Make significant changes in their daily routines to prevent the progression to full-fledged diabetes.

SARAH GARCIA

Sarah is a 34 year old Latina type one diabetic. She has been struggling with her recent diagnosis.

“I want to manage my condition without having it take over my life. My cultural food is important to me, and I hope I can eat my mom’s cooking again”

Frustrations:

  • Viewing health data from her continuous glucose monitor, insulin pump, and fitness wearable all in different places.

  • Understanding how to still eat her cultural food even with her condition.

Directed Storytelling

Through focused storytelling sessions, we identified challenges for users in diabetes management. Users currently struggle:

  • To find nutritional information for their cultural foods on food tracking apps, leading to reluctance in consuming these foods due to inadequate tracking capabilities.

  • To obtain clear and accessible educational information on diabetes. Even when a care team is available, individuals often feel uncertain about advocating for themselves and may lack the knowledge to ask questions for effective diabetes management.

  • To advocate for themselves within healthcare settings. Despite advancements in healthcare inclusivity, people of color, especially non-English-speaking immigrants, encounter challenges in self advocacy.

  • To share glucose updates with care providers. Having access to historical data over time is considered essential for effective communication and management.

Gap Detection

Competitive Audit

We observed that numerous apps are available in the current market for both food and glucose tracking.

However, there is currently no app that effectively integrates both aspects, requiring individuals with diabetes to navigate between multiple platforms to manage their health.

Feature Card Sorting

Kano Analysis

After taking in user feedback, our team brainstormed ways to make sure the app resonates with users. How could we make them feel empowered and represented? The solution: we opted to develop low-fidelity features for users to evaluate and provide feedback through a Kano Analysis. This approach allowed us to prioritize the most crucial touchpoints in the app.

The Kano Analysis revealed users' strong interest in the following features:

  • Accessing current and historical glucose data.

  • Receiving push notifications for low or high glucose levels.

  • Easily tracking food, including the use of a camera for quick meal or barcode capture.

  • Connecting with diverse, culturally competent healthcare providers experienced in working with patients from various backgrounds.

  • Accessing holistic education on diabetes management.

Final Design

Food Landing Page

Adding Food

Barcode/Food Scanner

Food Recommendations

Reflection

Next Steps

As the app progresses in its development, it will be crucial to prioritize research for a Food Recognition AI system in the image capturing feature that caters to the diverse needs of users.

Moreover, integrating the app with continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, and other wearable devices across different platforms will be essential for consolidating user data within the GlucoGuardian app.