On Dual Screens and Diabetes

If you are familiar with who I am, then you know how integral Diabetes is in my life. Having lived with this disease for almost 8 years; it has played a significant role in shaping the person that I am today. If you are reading this specific post, then you likely know how integral video games are in my life. If you go back every Friday since the beginning of this blog’s existence you will find ramblings about some video game topic of my choosing. So rare is the opportunity for these to pieces of my life to merge into a single entity, or even a single post. But today, my eager-reader, is your lucky day. Bayer has just released its Didget Blood Glucose Monitoring System to the public and I’m not sure which part of me is more excited: the gamer part or the pancreatically challenged part.

Great news ahead, assuming you haven’t upgraded to a DSi yet.

First, some quick basics for the uninformed. Citing the American Diabetes Association, with “type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.” Simply put, if the pancreas cannot produce insulin, not-fun things can happen. Thankfully the technology exists to make living with this disease infinitely more manageable in than prior generations. Of course, if you really want to know more about what it’s like you can contact me directly. I know that I’m combining audiences and making some grossly general statements here, but I want to make sure that the most basic of basics are put out there so there’s some common ground with what I’m about to talk about. When it comes to managing diabetes, the almighty blood glucose test is essential. Depending on who you talk to, these simple tests are performed anywhere from 4 to 12 times a day depending on the person’s needs. This test helps us navigate tricky waters of proper blood glucose management. Each result, when factored with possible exercise or meal planning, determines the right course of action for a person with diabetes. Despite all of the electronics I own, my blood glucose meter, a.k.a. Bart Allen, is the most important piece of technology I own.

It is with that context that I approach the news of Bayer’s Didget. A blood glucose meter that is designed specifically to integrate with a Nintendo DS game. The meter functions like any other blood glucose meter with the added ability to plug into the Nintendo DS’ GBA slot to upload its data to the game, Knock ‘em Down – World’s Fair. Players are rewarded for the blood glucose data based on keeping a regular testing schedule and for having results within an acceptable range. Having not yet played the game, I can’t comment on the quality of the game itself, but the premise alone is sufficient motivation for commentary.

My first question is motivation. Not having children, I don’t truly know what it takes to motivate a child to eat, clean up, sleep, or do anything else. When it comes to something as serious as diabetes, I know that parents have to take a particularly hands-on role in the management of their child’s disease. This is a touchy subject so I’ll try to stay away from preaching, but I wonder if this is really necessary when it comes to teaching (or trying to teach) a child proper management techniques. Maybe the target audience for this device is too young to understand the seriousness of the situation, but is a video game really the right approach to getting them to check their blood glucose on a regular basis?

Thankfully, there is a good amount of customization with the Didget meter. Personal low and high blood glucose thresholds can be adjusted as well as a timer that will remind the child to test after a certain amount of time after a meal. This customization also factors into the key selling point of this device. Recorded blood glucose results impact the amount of “Reward Points” awarded in the game each time the meter is connected to the DS system. When I first heard about this system I was skeptical. I wasn’t sure if Bayer could positively reinforce good testing habits while offering a digitally-based incentive to use their product. What about the days when we are sick and struggling to see a number under 200 mg/dL? If the conversion system is not fair about the realities of living with diabetes, how can anyone expect this meter/game combination to be more than a cheap gimmick? According to the manual, “You earn more points if your blood sugar is within your personal LO and HI blood sugar targets, but you will never lose points for testing more often, even if your blood sugar is high or low.” Additionally, Bonus Points are awarded for testing on consecutive days, further promoting good testing habits.

As a person living with this disease, every blood glucose test matters. Even if numbers spike above 300 or are startlingly below 40, each test is a vital to how we conduct ourselves day-to-day. The reward system for using the Didget appears to support the necessity of testing regularly and embraces the fact that not every result will be 100. The ultimate question, though, is how will a child react to this device? Of course if the game isn’t fun, then all incentive is lost. What we really need is a New Super Mario Bros. game that integrates the Didget blood glucose meter. Bonus lives and power-ups for target glucose results, anyone?

Admittedly, this post is less about video games and more about testing a theory. Can diabetes be made into a game? Is a video game the right method to teach or reinforce good diabetes management? If this is successful, will other companies try to capitalize on the opportunity to combine real-world scenarios with fantasy-world settings? Can you imagine Commander Shepard’s powers being affected by blood glucose in Mass Effect 2? What about averaged blood glucose results used to generate an XP-multiplier in Modern Warfare 2? While I’m skeptical of Bayer’s Didget ability to positively impact blood glucose testing habits in children, I’m hopeful that this is only the beginning. Video games can be more than just an escape from reality. In this case, they can be a positive assist to it. Hopefully this is only the beginning.

This post is featured on Talking About Games.