Thank you for visiting! Since the SugarDrive display is still in development, I wanted to share updates about its progress and the journey behind creating it.
The Inspiration Behind SugarDrive
My daughter, Evelyn, has been living with Type 1 diabetes for seven years. As she works toward getting her driver’s license, I realized how important it is for her to monitor her blood sugar with minimal distractions while driving. That’s why I set out to create SugarDrive—a small, dash-mounted display that provides real-time blood sugar readings at a glance.
Selecting the Right Hardware
As an electrical engineer, I initially considered designing a fully custom display from scratch. However, during my research, I discovered existing display assemblies with the necessary connectivity to fetch blood sugar data. Using an existing product saved time and allowed me to focus on developing the software.
I chose the M5StickC Plus2 display made by M5Stack, a company under Espressif. Espressif also makes the processor inside SugarPixel, a popular in-home blood sugar display. This alignment with proven technology gave me a strong starting point.
Developing the Software: Round 1
The biggest challenge for SugarDrive is connecting to Dexcom data from the Dexcom Follow app. Since SugarDrive doesn’t have cellular capabilities, it relies on WiFi to access this data. For in-vehicle use, the display connects to a smartphone hotspot.
To make configuration easy, I initially wrote software that generated a webpage from the display. Users could access this page to set up the device with their phone.
SugarDrive’s First Public Appearance
Evelyn recently organized the Galactic Expedition: T1D event for kids with Type 1 diabetes on September 8, 2024, in La Crescent, MN.
I showcased SugarDrive at the event and invited attendees to sign up as beta testers. A few people expressed interest, which was a big milestone!
At that time, we anticipated having units ready for testing within a month, once the setup process was more user-friendly.
Software Challenges: Round 2
After further testing, I discovered that the initial configuration method didn’t work consistently across all smartphones. Some phones couldn’t correctly load the configuration page, which required revisiting core software components.
While this delayed development, it also opened doors for new capabilities:
- QR Code Setup: I’m working on a feature that allows users to configure SugarDrive through a web interface using QR codes. This streamlined approach will make setup faster and more user-friendly.
- Bluetooth Configuration: Bluetooth configuration is now a practical option. But for now, I am only pursuing web configuration through wifi to avoid the additional development time in deploying the mobile app.
I aim to complete the QR code configuration feature by the end of this month.
What’s Next?
As I work to finalize the software, I’ll continue sharing updates here. Thank you for following along on this journey—I’m excited to bring SugarDrive to life and make driving safer and easier for people with Type 1 diabetes.
Leave a comment if you have any feedback, or fill out the form to join the beta testing program mailing list.
Stay tuned for more updates soon!
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