As November marks Diabetes Awareness Month, we’re highlighting one of our most popular clinical skills simulators – which is transforming how students and patients learn essential diabetes care.
According to Diabetes UK, some 4.6 million people in the UK – and hundreds of millions worldwide – live with a diabetes diagnosis. The number is rising, and many more are thought to be either undiagnosed, or pre-diabetic.
As a result, effective diabetes management has become a core skill taught across nursing and healthcare disciplines.
A crucial part of that management, for both healthcare practitioners and patients, is checking blood sugar levels using a finger prick test and a glucometer.
This simple procedure helps identify if blood sugar levels are becoming too high or too low, allowing timely action to prevent hypoglycaemic or hyperglycaemic attacks, both of which can be life-threatening if left untreated.
A realistic way to teach blood glucose testing
Just a few years ago, teaching options for this procedure were limited. The finger-pricking element couldn’t be practised at all, and preparing different strengths of glucose solutions for glucometers was time consuming and restrictive.
This gap in the market was spotted by Nina Godson, Assistant Professor and Lead for Clinical Skills at Coventry University, who has been teaching students across nursing, midwifery and allied health professions for 25 years.
Once she’d decided something better was needed for blood glucose training, she knew exactly who to approach.
From idea to innovation: Collaboration with Coventry University
Our expert product developers worked with Nina and the team at Coventry University to design, test and refine something that was realistic, authentic and robust. A simulator that gave students the opportunity to practise this essential skill in a lifelike setting, while also meeting the practical needs and budgets of medical educators.
The Glucohand® – Digital Glucometer Simulator was born.
“The way we were teaching this skill before just wasn’t realistic at all,” Nina explained. “We were basically using a piece of sponge and then positive and negative control solutions to put into the blood glucose monitor. We weren’t pricking any fingers and we couldn’t provide students with the realism required.
“There wasn’t anything on the market, and as I’m quite creative and a bit of an entrepreneur at heart, I decided we needed to design something.
“That’s when I approached Adam,Rouilly – a supplier I had worked with before. We wanted something that was as close as possible to a real human hand, in anatomy and physiology, where the fingers could be pricked. It also needed to be easy to use and durable.”
A true to life simulator for finger-prick testing
The Glucohand Digital Glucometer Simulator features a realistic adult-sized hand, cast from life, with two refillable finger blood pads in the middle and ring fingers.
The simulated glucometer device allows trainers to pre-set low, normal, high, or completely randomised glucose readings, without the need to mix any solutions.
It simply uses standard artificial blood, placed inside the refillable finger pads, while the reusable testing strips further help educators manage costs effectively.
Transforming learning and building confidence
Where she once worried about the quality of learning experiences in blood glucose training, Nina now feels pride every time she sees Glucohand in use, whether it’s teaching students or giving patients the opportunity to gain confidence in managing their diabetes at home.
“I was so proud when I first saw students using Glucohand, and I still am,” Nina said, “It’s become global, which is fantastic as it has really put the university on the map.
“We use it with our second year students, and they love it. It’s much more realistic and really trains them well. It takes away any anxiety and enables them to practise in a safe environment without putting anyone at risk.
“It’s also ideal for newly diagnosed diabetics in overcoming fear and giving them the confidence to carry out the finger prick test and interpret their readings accurately.”
Developing solutions for real-world training needs
Adam,Rouilly Director of Products, Research and Development, Daniel Mogentale, said: “We firmly believe that true innovation comes from meaningful collaboration, ensuring that every product we offer is selected or developed to answer real training needs.
“We often work closely with clinicians, educators and simulation technicians at the earliest stages of development, so we absolutely love it when someone comes to us with an idea.
“Working with Nina has been a privilege, and we’re delighted to have been able to bring her vision to life in Glucohand.”
To find out more about practical, realistic and cost effective clinical skills simulators and task trainers, please contact the Adam,Rouilly team, who are always happy to help.
