Project Description:

With 1.5 million people living in the United States with type 1 diabetes and insulin prices rising annually, it’s no surprise that individuals will go to great lengths to safeguard their supply. Insulin is a very sensitive protein that must be stored between 36 – 46 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent denaturation that causes decreased potency. After insulin reaches end users, there are no current solutions to test the viability of their own insulin supply. When their insulin does not work to bring down their blood sugar, diabetics often experience escalated hyperglycemia symptoms and wasted supplies in a lengthy troubleshooting process, in efforts to keep that insulin vial that may cost up to $1000 to replace. No one should be put in this position to choose between risking their health and saving thousands of dollars.

That’s where SpoilerAlert! comes in. We’re developing a lateral flow immunoassay – in short, a COVID test for your insulin – that aims to give diabetics a shortcut through that arduous troubleshooting process. It’s easy-to-use and cost-effective: just place a small sample of the insulin on the test pad and get rapid visual confirmation of the efficacy of the insulin remaining in your vial. This is something that every diabetic would want to have on hand for when they inevitably run into their insulin not working properly. We see this as something that would especially add value to clinics providing insulin to the rising low-income and homeless diabetic populations. We want our device to be a tool that creates a standardization of diabetic care, regardless of socioeconomic status. With an effective test device that would be the first and only of its kind, SpoilerAlert! aims to give diabetics control and confidence in their medication in the moments they need it most.