November 3, 2021 • 22 mins
Does your type 1 diabetes management need a glow up? Well, let me introduce you to Glowcose, quite possibly the coolest type 1 diabetes gadget on the market.
In today's episode I get to talk with Kevin Terry, one of the creators and developers of Glowcose.
What is Glowcose?
It's a light that connects to Dexcom CGM systems to display whether or not your blood sugars are in range using a variety of colors on the light spectrum. As their Instagram feeds claims, it's like a party... for your blood sugar.
Listen in as Kevin dives into the Glowcose story, the inspiration behind it and how you can get your hands on one!
WHERE YOU CAN BUY GLOWCOSE: www.glowcose.com
Glowcose on Instagram: @glowcose
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK (affiliate link)
Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner (a.k.a. my T1D Bible)
Below you will find a transcription of the episode. This transcription was created by an automated, electronic service that is based off of an uploaded audio recording. Although the transcription is largely accurate, in some instances it is not correct or is incomplete due to inaudible portions of the recording or due to computer-based transcription errors. The transcriptions should never be treated as an authoritative document or record. Again, nothing that you hear or read on the show's website, in the show notes or in a blog post should be considered medical advice or advice in any way, shape or form. Always consult your physician before making any changes to the way you manage your or someone else’s health. To see a full list and detailed description of The Sugar Mama's Podcast's disclaimers and disclosures, click HERE.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Katie (00:00):
This is episode 44 of the sugar mamas podcast.
And today I'm talking withKevin, Terry, Kevin, along with
his wife are the founders andowners of a little product
called glucose.
Glucose is a small lamp, almostlike a bedside nightlight that
emits different colors of.
Depending on what you or yourloved one's blood sugar.
(00:20):
Is it glows different colorsdepending on if you are low, if
you're in range or if you'rehigh glucose was inspired by
Kevin's wife who has had typeone diabetes for the past 26
years, Kevin's going to tell usmore about the glucose story,
how it works certain featuresand how you can get your hands
on one.
All right, sit back, relax andenjoy.
(00:47):
You're listening to the sugarmamas podcast, a show designed
for moms and caregivers of typeone diabetics here.
You'll find a community oflike-minded people who are
striving daily to keep theirkids safe, happy, and healthy in
the ever-changing world of typeone.
I'm your host and fellow T one Dmom, Katie Roseboro.
(01:16):
Before we get started.
I need you to know that nothingyou hear on the sugar mamas
podcast should be consideredmedical advice.
Please be safe, be smart, andalways consult your physician
before making changes to the wayyou manage type one diabetes.
Thanks.
Everybody.
I am here with Kevin Terrytoday.
And Kevin, I'm going to go aheadand let you introduce yourself
(01:37):
to the listeners and tell usyour connection to type one
diabetes.
Kevin (01:41):
Sure.
I'm Kevin Terry.
I'm one of the co-founders ofglucose.
We make a light that connects toat the moment, Dexcom, CGMs and
displays your current bloodblood glucose readings in.
Katie (01:55):
I keep them.
I just told Kevin, I keepseeing.
This little glucose, light popup all over the place, Instagram
and Facebook, and from actual,not just ads, but like actual
people that have purchased itand are using it and absolutely
loving it.
So I contacted him because Iwant to learn more about it.
And I definitely want him toshare the information with our
(02:16):
listeners.
So you, you already said it's alight, it connects to, I guess,
at the moment, just Dexcom CGMs,correct?
Kevin (02:24):
That's
Katie (02:25):
Yeah, and it, and it, whatever the well, I'm gonna let
you talk about it.
So let's start first with theinspiration behind it.
Cause I would love to know justkind of how this idea started.
Kevin (02:36):
sure.
Yeah, absolutely.
It's kind of a bit of a, an oddbeginning.
It started because I wanted adog, oddly enough.
And within that conversationwith my wife we decided to have
a kid instead and kind of askedthat, you know, that began to
progress.
And the, the biggest issue, Iguess, kind of arose from.
(02:58):
Her keeping her blood sugarlevels lower than she normally
would during pregnancy.
And maybe it was that in tandemwith kind of like this, you
know, I'm, I'm going to be a, afather soon kind of thing that,
that really you know, drove upthe anxiety, you know,
especially when sleeping, it waskind of overnight.
(03:18):
So at one point I had.
Like alarm set every two hoursand I was trying to be discreet
about it cause they didn't wanther to wake up, you know, get as
much rest as she could, but Iwould still wake up and check my
phone every time, then I'dstruggle to fall back asleep and
yeah.
So, so a bit of that laterstarted looking into another way
(03:38):
to do it instead of having toreach for my phone, unlock it,
find the app.
And that kinda got me down theroad of maybe making some
indicator that could just sit onthe table next to us.
Which, which later turned intojust color.
So it's, it'll change colorsdepending on the ranges you set.
So red is low green.
(03:59):
It's in range and then kind offalls the Hughes spectrum up to
like a pinkish purple for high.
Katie (04:07):
Okay.
Kevin (04:08):
And that way we were while we would sleep, it would
just kind of do its thing.
And, you know, if you happen toopen your eyes, you could kind
of read the room if you will,and just get a feel for where it
was.
And it helped them.
And we just kind of keptcontinuing to use it for a few
years after that.
This was my daughter is fournow, so, so just about five
years ago, then I'd, I'd alwayshave this piece of me in the
(04:31):
back, you know, in the back ofmy mind, that was, I think other
people could benefit from this.
It was, you know, we still useit.
We take it to different places.
The, the original prototype Andthen it wasn't until not a
little over a year now.
One of the, one of my colleaguesat work we'd go to lunch quite
often, just chat about it forawhile.
(04:52):
And he had a pair of friendsthat were always interested in
new opportunities and trying newthings.
So we all got together and said,Hey, I think we could do this.
I think we could make this a, aproduct.
Making it valuable to a lot ofpeople and see if folks get
benefit from it.
Katie (05:09):
Yeah.
So I feel like the vast majorityof the population would have a
great idea like this, but thenwould have zero idea about how
to take it from an idea toactually making a product that.
Works with what you had in mind.
So what is your, what is yourbackground like?
I feel like you had to have sometech background or how did you
(05:30):
get it.
from an idea to just aprototype.
Kevin (05:33):
Sure.
So, yeah, I'm, I'm anelectronics engineer and
firmware engineer by, by trade.
So software in, in circuitboards or you know, my day to
day.
So that, that's kind of, thatwas definitely a, one of the
barriers that you would find istrying to develop a product,
but, you know, it's what, it'swhat we did at the time for, for
(05:53):
living.
We're we're fortunate in thatthe, the other folks in the
group kind of have the otherpieces of the puzzle that it
takes to, to bring somethingfrom an idea into, you know,
having a bunch of them.
Katie (06:05):
Right.
How do you, I'm just curious toknow how do you end up kind of
producing or mass producing,something like that.
Kevin (06:14):
Sure.
It's it's it can be reallycomplicated and sometimes it's
easier than others.
Electronics tends to be adifficult piece of it.
You have to, you know, testthose, try those generally
there's firmware involved.
And then have those manufacturedthat's that's not too outside of
the realm.
Feasibility for, for most folks,you know, it's, takes a bit of
(06:34):
research to get there, but to dois not totally unreasonable.
And then finding, you know,getting all of the cab together,
actually making this thing andthen a manufacturer to make it
for you.
And then all of that processthat begins to be the heaviest
piece of it all.
And then.
I know it is.
(06:54):
It's a bit akin to a giantpuzzle and you need to find each
piece.
They're not necessarily in thebox for you.
You have to go hunt for them.
Katie (07:02):
Mm.
Yes.
That's to me that sounds verycomplicated.
Intimidating.
I'm just so impressed withpeople who can like, have ideas
like that and actually get it tomarket.
What, so not counting the fouryears or so from the prototype
to meeting with, you know, yourgroup of friends, but once you
guys had that meeting, about howlong was it before it was
(07:22):
actually for sale?
Kevin (07:24):
sure it's funnily enough, we had our first kind of
meeting, if you will.
It was the very end of Februaryof 2020.
So we had one in-person meetingand then.
Right up until like the day theywere available, a purchase
almost everything was doneremote.
First of all, even though we'rein the, in the same town, it was
(07:46):
you know, right.
As the pandemic hit.
So it added this layer ofcomplexity to every piece.
But we managed to get throughit.
We were super, super fortunatein finding a A bunch of folks
willing to help us test these.
So, so once we had, you know,high fidelity prototypes of it
we were able to find probably 25folks kind of all around the
(08:07):
country.
They were like, sure, we'd loveto give it a go and give some
feedback and, and try it out.
So kind of through the, probablythe eight months, right up to
the point where they wereavailable.
W we had a handful of peoplethat were using it every day and
we check in on them and getfeedback and yeah, it was great.
(08:28):
We, we owe a lot to those folks.
Katie (08:31):
That's awesome.
So how does, how does it workexactly?
Is there an app that you have tohook it up to other than the
Dexcom
Kevin (08:38):
No, well, no, there's no app.
Katie (08:41):
Okay.
Kevin (08:41):
And, and that was kind of one of the key things we really
tried to, to get away from.
So one of the main goals withglucose in the beginning, cause
there was a fair bit ofuncertainty about it is, you
know, will people like this, youknow, is it something that other
people find value in?
So for us kind of our ethos wasto make sure it was accessible
(09:03):
to everybody.
You know, you could make a veryexpensive thing that does all of
these things.
And then a lot of.
It wouldn't be accessible tothem.
So, so we really didn't want togo down that road.
And a piece of that was to tryto get away from having to
develop apps for it.
So once he wants you to aniPhone app, then you have to do
(09:24):
an Android app and thatecosystem is kind of tough to
navigate between the two.
So, so yeah, I've read from thegetting of is how do we avoid
that?
And we had been, you, we beingmy wife and I had been using
mate for a fair fair while.
And that that's a service shouldremain.io that connects through
Dexcom follow.
And, and through that process,you can get your.
(09:48):
Blood glucose readings fromDexcom.
It's hugely valuable for us inthe data world.
So all of the charts they giveyou all of the, the added
information was really helpfulin kind of helping fine tune
things for my wife there.
But so, so we use sugar may as aservice.
So you would create an accountwith them, set that up and then
(10:12):
glucose gets its data fromthere.
Katie (10:13):
Okay.
obviously you had to work withsugar mate to make that
accessible.
Kevin (10:20):
No, it's, it's built right into sugar, man.
Yep.
Katie (10:22):
Oh, nice.
Okay.
Kevin (10:24):
they make that accessible for, for I imagined a whole
swath of reasons, but I imaginefor other apps you know, I.
Apple watch apps and things likethat.
I imagine that's prettyvaluable.
Katie (10:37):
My technological ignorance, but sugar, mate's got
all the info and then it sharesit with glucose.
I'm just, how does it get fromsugar mate to glucose?
Kevin (10:46):
Sure.
So glucose is oh, wifi connectedlight.
Yep.
So, so once you set it up, youtell it where to go.
To get that data
Katie (10:54):
Yeah.
Kevin (10:54):
it does it automatically.
So every five minutes it'll goand fetch a new piece of data
for you,
Katie (10:59):
Okay.
So do you, have to have thesugar mate app to use glucose?
Kevin (11:03):
not the app necessarily.
So, so
Katie (11:06):
I'm not kidding.
Okay.
So I'm an Android user.
I know I'm a black, the blacksheep of the technology world.
But
Kevin (11:11):
it's a great question.
Katie (11:12):
know I want to love sugar mate, but I can't use sugar
mate.
Cause I don't have I don't, atleast I don't think I can cause
I don't have a an iPhone, butanyway, just you go ahead to
explain that to me.
Cause I'm very curious.
Hey guys just want to pop inreal quick to tell you about the
product feature of the week.
This was the first type onemanagement book that I bought
after my daughter, Sarah wasdiagnosed and I absolutely love
(11:35):
it.
I have read through it two and ahalf times and refer back to it
often when I have a questionabout type one diabetes
management, it is think like apancreas by.
Shiner, I call it my T one DBible.
Look, we all love YouTube videosand podcasts that tell us how to
do things.
I mean, for heaven sakes, Istarted one myself.
I love them so much, but I liketo have something in writing
(11:58):
that I can go back to and lookat and read when I have
questions or concerns, or justneed to be reminded of how
things work.
I highly recommend it.
In my opinion.
I thought it was easy to readand even better.
It was funny.
And if I can laugh out loudwhile reading a book on how to
manage type one diabetes, Thenit's a winner in my book.
No pun intended, but now thatI'm thinking about it, pun
(12:18):
intended, Hey, have you checkedout?
Buy me a coffee yet.
Now there's a no stringsattached way for listeners to
support the show, go to www dot,buy me a coffee forward slash
sugar mama to donate today.
All right.
I think I've said enough nowback to the show.
Kevin (12:37):
you totally can.
Um, Yeah, so kind of the Androidside, so everything's built as a
web app.
So if you were to go into abrowser
Katie (12:47):
Hmm.
Kevin (12:47):
or something like that, you can absolutely access it or
on your PC or something likethat.
Katie (12:52):
Okay.
Kevin (12:53):
maybe it's just a link instead of an app
Katie (12:55):
Okay.
So if I can
Kevin (12:57):
to that piece.
Yeah.
Katie (12:58):
all right, so I can get to it on my PC, just not my
phone.
Okay.
I did not know that.
I've just been using like decks,you know, Dexcom follow and
Dexcom clarity and things likethat.
But I love how I wonder if itcan still call me.
Cause that's the feature that Ilove that people talk about is
that sugar mate we'll call themright when they're out of range.
(13:18):
I wonder if it can call methrough my PC.
Kevin (13:22):
Yeah, absolutely.
I'm almost positive at can.
So, so once you set that up onthe, on the web app side, you
can set all of those alarms and
Katie (13:30):
Okay.
Kevin (13:31):
all of that.
Katie (13:31):
Okay, good to know.
I'm really revealing my, myignorance here in the in the web
space and tech world, but that'sokay.
I figured out how to do thispodcast.
So at least have a little bitof, you know
Kevin (13:43):
right.
And it's fantastic.
Katie (13:45):
Yeah, thank you.
Okay.
So good to know.
All right, good to know.
We can use it even if we don'thave an iPhone.
Perfect.
And then you already told us howto set it up, so, and then you
can set your own ranges as towhen the colors will glow for
you.
Right.
Kevin (14:01):
That's right.
Katie (14:02):
there a difference between, I'm just thinking of
like my Dexcom alarms, is therea difference between the color?
It would be for an urgent lowversus the color for just like.
Kevin (14:14):
Kind of, sorry.
It's it's a bit, so what you'llset up for glucose is three
numbers.
That is kind of your, yourperfect number, that that number
will correlate, correlate withthe greenest of greens and then
your low number, which you canset.
It doesn't have to be what youset for your Dexcom urgent
(14:37):
alarm.
Katie (14:38):
nice.
Kevin (14:39):
If it is however you can tell the difference between like
a, a dark orange and a red.
So in, in my experience, we gotgood enough to where you could
look at it and generallyestimate you know, blood sugar
within three or four points
Katie (14:55):
Wow.
Kevin (14:56):
just by kind of telling the difference in hue from it.
Yeah.
Katie (15:00):
And then just close It Doesn't blink or beep or
anything like that.
Kevin (15:04):
It does not.
W we went back and forth aboutthis for quite a while, and it
was you know, how do we, again,pair the features down to be.
Accessible in a sense that it'snot like overwhelming, you know,
I can imagine the first timethat somebody has a slightly low
sugar in their rooms, like red,you know, I can imagine someone
(15:27):
would be like, I did not sign upfor this.
But on the other hand like inyour email is S you know, some
folks don't want a light whilethey're sleeping, unless it is.
You know, a recent, they shouldnot be currently sleeping.
You know, so it's alwayssomething we'll, you know, we're
always looking for that feedbackfrom, from everybody that uses
it, you know, it would be kindof silly for us to think you
(15:50):
know, w we know best, and here'sthe features you really want
anything else?
You know, not, not valid.
We're, we're very much not likethat.
You know, we, we want to hearhow people use it and see that
and learn from that and be ableto, you know, add those things
that add value.
Katie (16:10):
Yeah, absolutely.
I had asked Kevin about if therewas a way to turn it off.
So it only glows when you're,you know, when you are low or
high or your loved one is low orhigh.
Just because I was thinkingabout my own husband, who he's,
the person that will put anitty-bitty piece of black
electrical tape over the lighton the iron.
That's just like, you know, justlike blinking or glowing or the
(16:32):
light on like the, whatever theblue Ray player or whatever it
is.
He just can't handle.
Tiniest little amount of lightwhile he's trying to sleep.
So I feel like at least right.
now we would have to keep it inthe living room, which I've seen
a lot of people that have postedabout it.
They have it in their kitchen orthe living room, because I mean,
you know, you think about howmuch you're on your phone all
day long, like any reason or anyexcuse that I have not to give.
(16:56):
On my phone for the millions oftime and a day, I will take it.
So even just like, Hey, I'mcooking dinner and I can glance
over and see, you know, oh, it'sred eye.
We need to treat a low or, youknow, whatever it might be.
I just think that's, I thinkit's great.
And it's pretty, it's like abuilt-in nightlight.
You can put it in your kid'sroom.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Kevin (17:15):
did we did there is a button on the back.
You can change the brightness.
We did, we tried to make itreally low,
Katie (17:21):
Okay.
Kevin (17:21):
we also wanted it to be like super bright.
Katie (17:23):
Yeah.
Kevin (17:24):
you've kind of a bit of range there, but yeah, kind of
like on the, on the point youmade, is it, know, we, we found
the most value in the, in thespaces between.
You know, it felt like, youknow, occasionally you're,
you're just bouncing betweenalarms and, and to be able to,
you know, you don't, you're likehaving a great morning.
(17:46):
Everything's green.
Perfect.
Then you look over and you seeit's, you know, turning blue a
little bit.
You're like, what's up, what'sgoing on?
You know?
And, and to be able to catchthat before,
Katie (17:57):
Yeah,
Kevin (17:58):
you know, something changes then go and you know, of
course never, never treatyourself.
With anything other than the,you know,
Katie (18:06):
the
Kevin (18:07):
Dexcom itself, you know?
Yeah, of course.
Oh, we, we do not recommendthat.
But you know, to be, to be ableto have that indication, you
know, just while you're inpassing, walking through the
kitchen or something like thatis, is you know, is helpful.
It's not yelling at you.
It's, it's just there.
Katie (18:24):
Yeah, Well, and I think that's a way to, I'm just
thinking about, I have two otherkids and I mean, my daughter
would probably hate that I'msuggesting this because.
Well, you know, you know howsiblings are sometimes she likes
to bicker with her brother.
So she would probably notappreciate them being involved
with her diabetes management.
But you know, she's also notpaying attention all the time.
So if it's in a room with themwhile they're watching TV and
(18:48):
I'm not there and somebody elsenotices it, you know, before my
alarm goes off, then I thinkthere's just so many benefits to
it.
It's a really cool product andit's pretty, and it's, it's just
very simple and clean.
And I think you guys did agreat.
Kevin (19:03):
you.
We really, really appreciatethat.
Katie (19:05):
Yeah.
You're very welcome.
Kevin (19:07):
yeah.
It's so exciting to see how manyfolks have, you know, found use
for it?
You know, we, we, we certainlydidn't expect that by any means
to, you know, in some of theemails, you know, just so nice.
It's yeah.
It's, it's great.
Katie (19:23):
Yeah.
Well, where can people buy it?
Kevin (19:25):
Glucose.com.
Katie (19:26):
Okay, there you go.
That's easy enough for a while.
You guys were, I think, sold outof them, right?
They were on back order.
Kevin (19:32):
We were, yeah, we again, definitely didn't anticipate you
know, the, the community takinga liking to it as crazy as quick
as they did, but.
Katie (19:43):
You working on any other cool gadgets at the moment?
Kevin (19:46):
too much just right now I'm just trying to keep, keep
the flow of these valuable youknow, there's a massive
electronic shortage
Katie (19:53):
I know.
Kevin (19:54):
so we're our best to hedge that one off,
Katie (19:58):
Oh my goodness.
I didn't even think about that.
That's very true.
Wow.
Well, and I feel like there's anissue with like shipping
gridlock right now, too.
So people, if you, maybe thiswould make a great Christmas
gift, I'm just saying foryourself, if you're the
caregiver of a type onediabetic, or if you're a type
one diabetic.
So I would go ahead and getordering one right now, if you
(20:20):
would like one, if you want itto be here in time for
Christmas, at least, Right.
Yeah, no, you're welcome.
Well, is there anything else youwant to add?
Anything else you think thelisteners should know before we
sign off?
Kevin (20:31):
No, just just a huge thank you to tell the folks that
have out and.
Let us know that you love it,and we always appreciate those
things.
So thank you,
Katie (20:40):
Yeah, no problem.
thank you, You have a great day.
Kevin (20:43):
you too.
Thanks.
Katie (20:44):
Welcome.
Bye.
Kevin (20:45):
Bye.
Katie (20:52):
All right, that's it for our show today.
Seriously, such a cool product.
Go check it out.
I will put a link to theirwebsite in the show notes, as
well as where you can find themon social media.
After the episode was over Kevinand I talked for a little bit
longer, and honestly I shouldhave just kept recording because
he was telling me how it'sreally been a bonding experience
for he and his wife, how afterthey put their little daughter
(21:12):
to bed each.
They kind of go out into theshop and work on getting the
glucose products, ready to ship.
They do not assemble the glucoselights themselves, but they do
ship each and every one of themat this time.
So he said it's a lot of work,but it's been a lot of fun for
them just to spend time witheach other.
In the evening.
I also asked Kevin about whetheror not they would be trying to
(21:33):
get glucose hooked up with anyother CGM systems in the future.
And while that hasn't happened,He did confirm that they are
constantly working to make thata reality.
They're trying to find ways toget Libris and Medtronic CGMs in
the loop as well.
Also, I was so grateful for thesugar mate information that
Kevin shared with me.
I was definitely under theimpression that you could only
(21:54):
use sugar mate, if you had aniPhone.
So I'm going to go sit down atmy PC and see if I can't get
that hooked up.
Thanks, Kevin learning somethingnew every day over here.
All right.
You guys have an absolutelyfabulous week and I will chat
with you soon.
Bye.
This is episode 44 of the sugar mamas podcast.
And today I'm talking withKevin, Terry, Kevin, along with
his wife are the founders andowners of a little product
called glucose.
Glucose is a small lamp, almostlike a bedside nightlight that
emits different colors of.
Depending on what you or yourloved one's blood sugar.
(00:20):
Is it glows different colorsdepending on if you are low, if
you're in range or if you'rehigh glucose was inspired by
Kevin's wife who has had typeone diabetes for the past 26
years, Kevin's going to tell usmore about the glucose story,
how it works certain featuresand how you can get your hands
on one.
All right, sit back, relax andenjoy.
(00:47):
You're listening to the sugarmamas podcast, a show designed
for moms and caregivers of typeone diabetics here.
You'll find a community oflike-minded people who are
striving daily to keep theirkids safe, happy, and healthy in
the ever-changing world of typeone.
I'm your host and fellow T one Dmom, Katie Roseboro.
(01:16):
Before we get started.
I need you to know that nothingyou hear on the sugar mamas
podcast should be consideredmedical advice.
Please be safe, be smart, andalways consult your physician
before making changes to the wayyou manage type one diabetes.
Thanks.
Everybody.
I am here with Kevin Terrytoday.
And Kevin, I'm going to go aheadand let you introduce yourself
(01:37):
to the listeners and tell usyour connection to type one
diabetes.
Kevin (01:41):
Sure.
I'm Kevin Terry.
I'm one of the co-founders ofglucose.
We make a light that connects toat the moment, Dexcom, CGMs and
displays your current bloodblood glucose readings in.
Katie (01:55):
I keep them.
I just told Kevin, I keepseeing.
This little glucose, light popup all over the place, Instagram
and Facebook, and from actual,not just ads, but like actual
people that have purchased itand are using it and absolutely
loving it.
So I contacted him because Iwant to learn more about it.
And I definitely want him toshare the information with our
(02:16):
listeners.
So you, you already said it's alight, it connects to, I guess,
at the moment, just Dexcom CGMs,correct?
Kevin (02:24):
That's
Katie (02:25):
Yeah, and it, and it, whatever the well, I'm gonna let
you talk about it.
So let's start first with theinspiration behind it.
Cause I would love to know justkind of how this idea started.
Kevin (02:36):
sure.
Yeah, absolutely.
It's kind of a bit of a, an oddbeginning.
It started because I wanted adog, oddly enough.
And within that conversationwith my wife we decided to have
a kid instead and kind of askedthat, you know, that began to
progress.
And the, the biggest issue, Iguess, kind of arose from.
(02:58):
Her keeping her blood sugarlevels lower than she normally
would during pregnancy.
And maybe it was that in tandemwith kind of like this, you
know, I'm, I'm going to be a, afather soon kind of thing that,
that really you know, drove upthe anxiety, you know,
especially when sleeping, it waskind of overnight.
(03:18):
So at one point I had.
Like alarm set every two hoursand I was trying to be discreet
about it cause they didn't wanther to wake up, you know, get as
much rest as she could, but Iwould still wake up and check my
phone every time, then I'dstruggle to fall back asleep and
yeah.
So, so a bit of that laterstarted looking into another way
(03:38):
to do it instead of having toreach for my phone, unlock it,
find the app.
And that kinda got me down theroad of maybe making some
indicator that could just sit onthe table next to us.
Which, which later turned intojust color.
So it's, it'll change colorsdepending on the ranges you set.
So red is low green.
(03:59):
It's in range and then kind offalls the Hughes spectrum up to
like a pinkish purple for high.
Katie (04:07):
Okay.
Kevin (04:08):
And that way we were while we would sleep, it would
just kind of do its thing.
And, you know, if you happen toopen your eyes, you could kind
of read the room if you will,and just get a feel for where it
was.
And it helped them.
And we just kind of keptcontinuing to use it for a few
years after that.
This was my daughter is fournow, so, so just about five
years ago, then I'd, I'd alwayshave this piece of me in the
(04:31):
back, you know, in the back ofmy mind, that was, I think other
people could benefit from this.
It was, you know, we still useit.
We take it to different places.
The, the original prototype Andthen it wasn't until not a
little over a year now.
One of the, one of my colleaguesat work we'd go to lunch quite
often, just chat about it forawhile.
(04:52):
And he had a pair of friendsthat were always interested in
new opportunities and trying newthings.
So we all got together and said,Hey, I think we could do this.
I think we could make this a, aproduct.
Making it valuable to a lot ofpeople and see if folks get
benefit from it.
Katie (05:09):
Yeah.
So I feel like the vast majorityof the population would have a
great idea like this, but thenwould have zero idea about how
to take it from an idea toactually making a product that.
Works with what you had in mind.
So what is your, what is yourbackground like?
I feel like you had to have sometech background or how did you
(05:30):
get it.
from an idea to just aprototype.
Kevin (05:33):
Sure.
So, yeah, I'm, I'm anelectronics engineer and
firmware engineer by, by trade.
So software in, in circuitboards or you know, my day to
day.
So that, that's kind of, thatwas definitely a, one of the
barriers that you would find istrying to develop a product,
but, you know, it's what, it'swhat we did at the time for, for
(05:53):
living.
We're we're fortunate in thatthe, the other folks in the
group kind of have the otherpieces of the puzzle that it
takes to, to bring somethingfrom an idea into, you know,
having a bunch of them.
Katie (06:05):
Right.
How do you, I'm just curious toknow how do you end up kind of
producing or mass producing,something like that.
Kevin (06:14):
Sure.
It's it's it can be reallycomplicated and sometimes it's
easier than others.
Electronics tends to be adifficult piece of it.
You have to, you know, testthose, try those generally
there's firmware involved.
And then have those manufacturedthat's that's not too outside of
the realm.
Feasibility for, for most folks,you know, it's, takes a bit of
(06:34):
research to get there, but to dois not totally unreasonable.
And then finding, you know,getting all of the cab together,
actually making this thing andthen a manufacturer to make it
for you.
And then all of that processthat begins to be the heaviest
piece of it all.
And then.
I know it is.
(06:54):
It's a bit akin to a giantpuzzle and you need to find each
piece.
They're not necessarily in thebox for you.
You have to go hunt for them.
Katie (07:02):
Mm.
Yes.
That's to me that sounds verycomplicated.
Intimidating.
I'm just so impressed withpeople who can like, have ideas
like that and actually get it tomarket.
What, so not counting the fouryears or so from the prototype
to meeting with, you know, yourgroup of friends, but once you
guys had that meeting, about howlong was it before it was
(07:22):
actually for sale?
Kevin (07:24):
sure it's funnily enough, we had our first kind of
meeting, if you will.
It was the very end of Februaryof 2020.
So we had one in-person meetingand then.
Right up until like the day theywere available, a purchase
almost everything was doneremote.
First of all, even though we'rein the, in the same town, it was
(07:46):
you know, right.
As the pandemic hit.
So it added this layer ofcomplexity to every piece.
But we managed to get throughit.
We were super, super fortunatein finding a A bunch of folks
willing to help us test these.
So, so once we had, you know,high fidelity prototypes of it
we were able to find probably 25folks kind of all around the
(08:07):
country.
They were like, sure, we'd loveto give it a go and give some
feedback and, and try it out.
So kind of through the, probablythe eight months, right up to
the point where they wereavailable.
W we had a handful of peoplethat were using it every day and
we check in on them and getfeedback and yeah, it was great.
(08:28):
We, we owe a lot to those folks.
Katie (08:31):
That's awesome.
So how does, how does it workexactly?
Is there an app that you have tohook it up to other than the
Dexcom
Kevin (08:38):
No, well, no, there's no app.
Katie (08:41):
Okay.
Kevin (08:41):
And, and that was kind of one of the key things we really
tried to, to get away from.
So one of the main goals withglucose in the beginning, cause
there was a fair bit ofuncertainty about it is, you
know, will people like this, youknow, is it something that other
people find value in?
So for us kind of our ethos wasto make sure it was accessible
(09:03):
to everybody.
You know, you could make a veryexpensive thing that does all of
these things.
And then a lot of.
It wouldn't be accessible tothem.
So, so we really didn't want togo down that road.
And a piece of that was to tryto get away from having to
develop apps for it.
So once he wants you to aniPhone app, then you have to do
(09:24):
an Android app and thatecosystem is kind of tough to
navigate between the two.
So, so yeah, I've read from thegetting of is how do we avoid
that?
And we had been, you, we beingmy wife and I had been using
mate for a fair fair while.
And that that's a service shouldremain.io that connects through
Dexcom follow.
And, and through that process,you can get your.
(09:48):
Blood glucose readings fromDexcom.
It's hugely valuable for us inthe data world.
So all of the charts they giveyou all of the, the added
information was really helpfulin kind of helping fine tune
things for my wife there.
But so, so we use sugar may as aservice.
So you would create an accountwith them, set that up and then
(10:12):
glucose gets its data fromthere.
Katie (10:13):
Okay.
obviously you had to work withsugar mate to make that
accessible.
Kevin (10:20):
No, it's, it's built right into sugar, man.
Yep.
Katie (10:22):
Oh, nice.
Okay.
Kevin (10:24):
they make that accessible for, for I imagined a whole
swath of reasons, but I imaginefor other apps you know, I.
Apple watch apps and things likethat.
I imagine that's prettyvaluable.
Katie (10:37):
My technological ignorance, but sugar, mate's got
all the info and then it sharesit with glucose.
I'm just, how does it get fromsugar mate to glucose?
Kevin (10:46):
Sure.
So glucose is oh, wifi connectedlight.
Yep.
So, so once you set it up, youtell it where to go.
To get that data
Katie (10:54):
Yeah.
Kevin (10:54):
it does it automatically.
So every five minutes it'll goand fetch a new piece of data
for you,
Katie (10:59):
Okay.
So do you, have to have thesugar mate app to use glucose?
Kevin (11:03):
not the app necessarily.
So, so
Katie (11:06):
I'm not kidding.
Okay.
So I'm an Android user.
I know I'm a black, the blacksheep of the technology world.
But
Kevin (11:11):
it's a great question.
Katie (11:12):
know I want to love sugar mate, but I can't use sugar
mate.
Cause I don't have I don't, atleast I don't think I can cause
I don't have a an iPhone, butanyway, just you go ahead to
explain that to me.
Cause I'm very curious.
Hey guys just want to pop inreal quick to tell you about the
product feature of the week.
This was the first type onemanagement book that I bought
after my daughter, Sarah wasdiagnosed and I absolutely love
(11:35):
it.
I have read through it two and ahalf times and refer back to it
often when I have a questionabout type one diabetes
management, it is think like apancreas by.
Shiner, I call it my T one DBible.
Look, we all love YouTube videosand podcasts that tell us how to
do things.
I mean, for heaven sakes, Istarted one myself.
I love them so much, but I liketo have something in writing
(11:58):
that I can go back to and lookat and read when I have
questions or concerns, or justneed to be reminded of how
things work.
I highly recommend it.
In my opinion.
I thought it was easy to readand even better.
It was funny.
And if I can laugh out loudwhile reading a book on how to
manage type one diabetes, Thenit's a winner in my book.
No pun intended, but now thatI'm thinking about it, pun
(12:18):
intended, Hey, have you checkedout?
Buy me a coffee yet.
Now there's a no stringsattached way for listeners to
support the show, go to www dot,buy me a coffee forward slash
sugar mama to donate today.
All right.
I think I've said enough nowback to the show.
Kevin (12:37):
you totally can.
Um, Yeah, so kind of the Androidside, so everything's built as a
web app.
So if you were to go into abrowser
Katie (12:47):
Hmm.
Kevin (12:47):
or something like that, you can absolutely access it or
on your PC or something likethat.
Katie (12:52):
Okay.
Kevin (12:53):
maybe it's just a link instead of an app
Katie (12:55):
Okay.
So if I can
Kevin (12:57):
to that piece.
Yeah.
Katie (12:58):
all right, so I can get to it on my PC, just not my
phone.
Okay.
I did not know that.
I've just been using like decks,you know, Dexcom follow and
Dexcom clarity and things likethat.
But I love how I wonder if itcan still call me.
Cause that's the feature that Ilove that people talk about is
that sugar mate we'll call themright when they're out of range.
(13:18):
I wonder if it can call methrough my PC.
Kevin (13:22):
Yeah, absolutely.
I'm almost positive at can.
So, so once you set that up onthe, on the web app side, you
can set all of those alarms and
Katie (13:30):
Okay.
Kevin (13:31):
all of that.
Katie (13:31):
Okay, good to know.
I'm really revealing my, myignorance here in the in the web
space and tech world, but that'sokay.
I figured out how to do thispodcast.
So at least have a little bitof, you know
Kevin (13:43):
right.
And it's fantastic.
Katie (13:45):
Yeah, thank you.
Okay.
So good to know.
All right, good to know.
We can use it even if we don'thave an iPhone.
Perfect.
And then you already told us howto set it up, so, and then you
can set your own ranges as towhen the colors will glow for
you.
Right.
Kevin (14:01):
That's right.
Katie (14:02):
there a difference between, I'm just thinking of
like my Dexcom alarms, is therea difference between the color?
It would be for an urgent lowversus the color for just like.
Kevin (14:14):
Kind of, sorry.
It's it's a bit, so what you'llset up for glucose is three
numbers.
That is kind of your, yourperfect number, that that number
will correlate, correlate withthe greenest of greens and then
your low number, which you canset.
It doesn't have to be what youset for your Dexcom urgent
(14:37):
alarm.
Katie (14:38):
nice.
Kevin (14:39):
If it is however you can tell the difference between like
a, a dark orange and a red.
So in, in my experience, we gotgood enough to where you could
look at it and generallyestimate you know, blood sugar
within three or four points
Katie (14:55):
Wow.
Kevin (14:56):
just by kind of telling the difference in hue from it.
Yeah.
Katie (15:00):
And then just close It Doesn't blink or beep or
anything like that.
Kevin (15:04):
It does not.
W we went back and forth aboutthis for quite a while, and it
was you know, how do we, again,pair the features down to be.
Accessible in a sense that it'snot like overwhelming, you know,
I can imagine the first timethat somebody has a slightly low
sugar in their rooms, like red,you know, I can imagine someone
(15:27):
would be like, I did not sign upfor this.
But on the other hand like inyour email is S you know, some
folks don't want a light whilethey're sleeping, unless it is.
You know, a recent, they shouldnot be currently sleeping.
You know, so it's alwayssomething we'll, you know, we're
always looking for that feedbackfrom, from everybody that uses
it, you know, it would be kindof silly for us to think you
(15:50):
know, w we know best, and here'sthe features you really want
anything else?
You know, not, not valid.
We're, we're very much not likethat.
You know, we, we want to hearhow people use it and see that
and learn from that and be ableto, you know, add those things
that add value.
Katie (16:10):
Yeah, absolutely.
I had asked Kevin about if therewas a way to turn it off.
So it only glows when you're,you know, when you are low or
high or your loved one is low orhigh.
Just because I was thinkingabout my own husband, who he's,
the person that will put anitty-bitty piece of black
electrical tape over the lighton the iron.
That's just like, you know, justlike blinking or glowing or the
(16:32):
light on like the, whatever theblue Ray player or whatever it
is.
He just can't handle.
Tiniest little amount of lightwhile he's trying to sleep.
So I feel like at least right.
now we would have to keep it inthe living room, which I've seen
a lot of people that have postedabout it.
They have it in their kitchen orthe living room, because I mean,
you know, you think about howmuch you're on your phone all
day long, like any reason or anyexcuse that I have not to give.
(16:56):
On my phone for the millions oftime and a day, I will take it.
So even just like, Hey, I'mcooking dinner and I can glance
over and see, you know, oh, it'sred eye.
We need to treat a low or, youknow, whatever it might be.
I just think that's, I thinkit's great.
And it's pretty, it's like abuilt-in nightlight.
You can put it in your kid'sroom.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Kevin (17:15):
did we did there is a button on the back.
You can change the brightness.
We did, we tried to make itreally low,
Katie (17:21):
Okay.
Kevin (17:21):
we also wanted it to be like super bright.
Katie (17:23):
Yeah.
Kevin (17:24):
you've kind of a bit of range there, but yeah, kind of
like on the, on the point youmade, is it, know, we, we found
the most value in the, in thespaces between.
You know, it felt like, youknow, occasionally you're,
you're just bouncing betweenalarms and, and to be able to,
you know, you don't, you're likehaving a great morning.
(17:46):
Everything's green.
Perfect.
Then you look over and you seeit's, you know, turning blue a
little bit.
You're like, what's up, what'sgoing on?
You know?
And, and to be able to catchthat before,
Katie (17:57):
Yeah,
Kevin (17:58):
you know, something changes then go and you know, of
course never, never treatyourself.
With anything other than the,you know,
Katie (18:06):
the
Kevin (18:07):
Dexcom itself, you know?
Yeah, of course.
Oh, we, we do not recommendthat.
But you know, to be, to be ableto have that indication, you
know, just while you're inpassing, walking through the
kitchen or something like thatis, is you know, is helpful.
It's not yelling at you.
It's, it's just there.
Katie (18:24):
Yeah, Well, and I think that's a way to, I'm just
thinking about, I have two otherkids and I mean, my daughter
would probably hate that I'msuggesting this because.
Well, you know, you know howsiblings are sometimes she likes
to bicker with her brother.
So she would probably notappreciate them being involved
with her diabetes management.
But you know, she's also notpaying attention all the time.
So if it's in a room with themwhile they're watching TV and
(18:48):
I'm not there and somebody elsenotices it, you know, before my
alarm goes off, then I thinkthere's just so many benefits to
it.
It's a really cool product andit's pretty, and it's, it's just
very simple and clean.
And I think you guys did agreat.
Kevin (19:03):
you.
We really, really appreciatethat.
Katie (19:05):
Yeah.
You're very welcome.
Kevin (19:07):
yeah.
It's so exciting to see how manyfolks have, you know, found use
for it?
You know, we, we, we certainlydidn't expect that by any means
to, you know, in some of theemails, you know, just so nice.
It's yeah.
It's, it's great.
Katie (19:23):
Yeah.
Well, where can people buy it?
Kevin (19:25):
Glucose.com.
Katie (19:26):
Okay, there you go.
That's easy enough for a while.
You guys were, I think, sold outof them, right?
They were on back order.
Kevin (19:32):
We were, yeah, we again, definitely didn't anticipate you
know, the, the community takinga liking to it as crazy as quick
as they did, but.
Katie (19:43):
You working on any other cool gadgets at the moment?
Kevin (19:46):
too much just right now I'm just trying to keep, keep
the flow of these valuable youknow, there's a massive
electronic shortage
Katie (19:53):
I know.
Kevin (19:54):
so we're our best to hedge that one off,
Katie (19:58):
Oh my goodness.
I didn't even think about that.
That's very true.
Wow.
Well, and I feel like there's anissue with like shipping
gridlock right now, too.
So people, if you, maybe thiswould make a great Christmas
gift, I'm just saying foryourself, if you're the
caregiver of a type onediabetic, or if you're a type
one diabetic.
So I would go ahead and getordering one right now, if you
(20:20):
would like one, if you want itto be here in time for
Christmas, at least, Right.
Yeah, no, you're welcome.
Well, is there anything else youwant to add?
Anything else you think thelisteners should know before we
sign off?
Kevin (20:31):
No, just just a huge thank you to tell the folks that
have out and.
Let us know that you love it,and we always appreciate those
things.
So thank you,
Katie (20:40):
Yeah, no problem.
thank you, You have a great day.
Kevin (20:43):
you too.
Thanks.
Katie (20:44):
Welcome.
Bye.
Kevin (20:45):
Bye.
Katie (20:52):
All right, that's it for our show today.
Seriously, such a cool product.
Go check it out.
I will put a link to theirwebsite in the show notes, as
well as where you can find themon social media.
After the episode was over Kevinand I talked for a little bit
longer, and honestly I shouldhave just kept recording because
he was telling me how it'sreally been a bonding experience
for he and his wife, how afterthey put their little daughter
(21:12):
to bed each.
They kind of go out into theshop and work on getting the
glucose products, ready to ship.
They do not assemble the glucoselights themselves, but they do
ship each and every one of themat this time.
So he said it's a lot of work,but it's been a lot of fun for
them just to spend time witheach other.
In the evening.
I also asked Kevin about whetheror not they would be trying to
(21:33):
get glucose hooked up with anyother CGM systems in the future.
And while that hasn't happened,He did confirm that they are
constantly working to make thata reality.
They're trying to find ways toget Libris and Medtronic CGMs in
the loop as well.
Also, I was so grateful for thesugar mate information that
Kevin shared with me.
I was definitely under theimpression that you could only
(21:54):
use sugar mate, if you had aniPhone.
So I'm going to go sit down atmy PC and see if I can't get
that hooked up.
Thanks, Kevin learning somethingnew every day over here.
All right.
You guys have an absolutelyfabulous week and I will chat
with you soon.
Bye.
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