top of page
Untitled design (1).png

Diabetes

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a common chronic disease that affects 9.3% of the global population and requires ongoing medical attention. It continues to be a common disease in rural areas where there is a lack of resources for diabetic treatment. As such, Sri Lanka is one of the victims of a lack of resources where 1 in 12 adults suffers from diabetes.

 

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) statistics, diabetes affects 8.5% of adults in Sri Lanka. With the ongoing economic crisis and the decades-long civil war that ended in 2009, the medical supplies and support have drastically reduced, including insulin pumps for diabetic patients. Currently, 10.73% of the death in the country comes as a result of untreated diabetes. This raises the need for research on low-cost medical devices in the area of diabetes.

We aim to work with a multidisciplinary team to foster new knowledge and develop a solution for diabetic patients who are affected by a lack of resources.

 

Our goal is to create a low-cost, portable insulin pump for diabetes patients in Sri Lanka. 

hatton-map-1.jpg

Researching abroad

During the final prototyping stages, our team has planned an official testing session in Hatton, Sri Lanka where we will recruit patients and undergo extensive product development testing. We aim to provide our students with hands-on experience of patients in a low-resource setting.

Low-Cost Diabetes Medical Technology 

Our Research

Our Partners

Our team is working in collaboration with Dr. Rajaratnam in Hatton, Sri Lanka

Student Achievement 

​

Winners of the UBC TiM MedTech Sprint Competition

Our students are preparing to launch the prototype for client use

The team was selected to present at the Innovation OnBoard Pitch Fair

Leadership

Jack Pirie | Research Assistant | Diabetes

"I have lived with type 1 diabetes for 12 years, so I understand first-hand how demanding living with a chronic disease can be.  Biomedically developed devices have allowed me to live a relatively normal life since my diagnosis, and I can only imagine how difficult enduring a chronic disease must be without similar medical care and access to technology.  I am thankful for MEDIC for giving me the opportunity to give back to this field that has positively impacted my life beyond belief."

Volunteer Testimonials

MEDIC Foundation

177663040_1223062658096764_7450440115296

We pioneer community-driven healthcare solutions in British Columbia, connecting volunteers and innovators to address chronic conditions and improve long-term care

General Inquiries

medic (10).png

Get Monthly Updates

Subscribe to our monthly magazine and receive monthly updates from MEDIC

Thank you for subscribing!

Social Media

Find below our social media
Be sure to follow for updates and share our posts with family and friends!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

We acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xwmÉ™θkwÉ™yÌ“É™m (Musqueam) People.

bottom of page