What it does
This product non-invasively monitors blood glucose through the handlebar and encourages light post-meal exercise to reduce spikes. Its minimalist design lowers barriers to use and fits naturally into indoor spaces.
Your inspiration
Our team shares a personal connection to diabetes through family. After my father was diagnosed, I experienced the daily challenges of managing blood sugar — from painful finger-prick tests to the stress of post-meal spikes and the gradual decline in motivation. We realized the true difficulty wasn’t just the act of measuring glucose, but the emotional burden and lifestyle friction that made consistent habits hard to sustain. This led us to rethink the problem and design a product that feels intuitive, gentle, and seamlessly fits into everyday life — helping users take small, sustainable steps toward self-care.
How it works
Handle The handle features a non-invasive NIR glucose sensor that detects blood sugar when fingertips are placed on a shallow groove. This design ensures consistent contact and blocks ambient light to enhance accuracy. Instead of numeric values, a circular UI displays glucose trends to reduce anxiety. Data is automatically synced with a mobile app for tracking and analysis. Cycle Body The frame uses a dual-point support system with a crankless bearing mechanism, enabling smooth, low-intensity pedaling ideal for post-meal exercise. Foldable support bars allow easy storage, and the seat is angled to maintain stable posture and distribute weight comfortably. All data is sent to a companion app, where users can view activity and glucose patterns over time. The app also includes a conversational AI that offers personalized reminders, goal tracking, and habit feedback — helping users stay motivated and aware of their health trends throughout daily use.
Design process
The product was designed as a minimalist indoor cycle to blend into home interiors. However, a traditional handlebar added visual weight and disrupted the clean aesthetic. To preserve minimalism while enabling non-invasive blood glucose tracking, we first explored a retractable sliding handlebar. This maintained a clean look but proved impractical due to mechanical complexity and user inconvenience. Since the product supports short, light post-meal exercise, we questioned the need for a large front handle. User tests revealed that many held smartphones while pedaling, reducing exercise focus. To address this, we repositioned the handle as a subtle side grip near the seat, guiding users to place their hands naturally. This allowed automatic glucose tracking, promoted proper posture, and helped reduce distractions. Glucose is measured via a flat panel along the frame, aligned with arm position and gaze. A circular UI shows trend patterns instead of numbers to ease psychological burden. Ultimately, the handlebar’s redesign achieved visual balance and better user focus—proving that even a small design element can influence engagement and health behavior.
How it is different
Most health and fitness devices are made for “activated users” who are already motivated. We focused on those who know they should exercise or monitor blood glucose but struggle to follow through. The core issue isn’t awareness—it’s the lack of design for daily behavioral change. This is not a conventional fitness machine, but a tool that blends into everyday life and gently prompts action. Its furniture-like form and light, casual pedaling reduce psychological resistance, making exercise feel natural and unforced. The non-invasive glucose sensor sits where hands rest naturally, allowing seamless use. It also disrupts phone distraction—users must place their hands on the panel, creating brief, mindful moments. Instead of highlighting performance, we focused on emotional comfort and ease of use. Even low-motivation users can develop habits gradually. The product proves sustainable health comes not just from tech, but thoughtful emotional and behavioral design.
Future plans
This project focuses on reducing psychological and environmental barriers to health management through design. While a prototype and use scenario were developed, long-term effects through user data or biometric validation remain untested. Future steps include empirical studies on glucose trends, habit formation, and user satisfaction. Improving NIR sensor accuracy may require AI analysis and machine learning calibration. The conversational AI could evolve to provide personalized, predictive feedback. Designed as a furniture-fitness hybrid, the product may expand into a smart health interior linked with home IoT.
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