A prevention-focused digital health MVP
A prevention-focused digital health MVP
6 in-depth interviews and prototype testing shaped an early digital + physical MVP, supported by a SaaS analytics dashboard for tracking long-term health progress.
6 in-depth interviews and prototype testing shaped an early digital + physical MVP, supported by a SaaS analytics dashboard for tracking long-term health progress.
ROLE
Product Designer
ROLE
Product Designer
TIMELINE
Phase 1 (6 Weeks) · Ongoing
TIMELINE
Phase 1 (6 Weeks) · Ongoing
TEAM
Product Designer 1, Product Manager 1, Engineer 1
TEAM
Product Designer 1, Product Manager 1, Engineer 1
RESPONSIBILITY
Co-founder / Sole Designer
RESPONSIBILITY
Co-founder / Sole Designer
Overview
Overview
GluCoach is a prevention-focused digital health MVP exploring how a hybrid digital and physical system can make prevention feel immediate rather than abstract. Through 6 in-depth interviews and prototype testing, we shaped an early digital + physical MVP that helps pre-diabetic patients connect daily behaviors with clearer feedback and more sustainable habit change.
As the sole designer and co-founder during Phase 1, I led end-to-end design—from research synthesis and concept development to wireframing, UI/UX, interaction flows, and visual direction—while also creating physical product renderings for the companion device. Research and testing were conducted collaboratively with the team to translate insights into a cohesive MVP.
GluCoach is a prevention-focused digital health MVP exploring how a hybrid digital and physical system can make prevention feel immediate rather than abstract. Through 6 in-depth interviews and prototype testing, we shaped an early digital + physical MVP that helps pre-diabetic patients connect daily behaviors with clearer feedback and more sustainable habit change.
As the sole designer and co-founder during Phase 1, I led end-to-end design—from research synthesis and concept development to wireframing, UI/UX, interaction flows, and visual direction—while also creating physical product renderings for the companion device. Research and testing were conducted collaboratively with the team to translate insights into a cohesive MVP.
PROBLEM FRAMING
Why Prevention Matters
Why Prevention Matters
Diabetes rates continue to rise in the U.S., affecting over 38 million adults. Prevention is most effective before long-term habits are established, when small daily changes can still make a meaningful difference.
Diabetes rates continue to rise in the U.S., affecting over 38 million adults. Prevention is most effective before long-term habits are established, when small daily changes can still make a meaningful difference.
Source: Inoue et al., “Prevalence and Control of Diabetes Among US Adults, 2013–2023.” JAMA, 2025.
Source: Inoue et al., “Prevalence and Control of Diabetes Among US Adults, 2013–2023.” JAMA, 2025.
Source: Inoue et al., “Prevalence and Control of Diabetes Among US Adults, 2013–2023.” JAMA, 2025.
Source: Inoue et al., “Prevalence and Control of Diabetes Among US Adults, 2013–2023.” JAMA, 2025.
Why is prevention difficult to sustain?
Why is prevention difficult to sustain?
Pre-diabetes affects millions of people, yet prevention often feels abstract and distant. While many individuals know what lifestyle changes to make, sustaining those habits over time remains difficult without immediate feedback or motivation.
Most health tools focus on tracking data rather than supporting behavior change, leaving a gap between knowing what to do and consistently doing it.
Pre-diabetes affects millions of people, yet prevention often feels abstract and distant. While many individuals know what lifestyle changes to make, sustaining those habits over time remains difficult without immediate feedback or motivation.
Most health tools focus on tracking data rather than supporting behavior change, leaving a gap between knowing what to do and consistently doing it.
Key Design Question
Key Design Question
How might we make prevention feel immediate and actionable by helping users connect everyday behaviors to clear, meaningful feedback?
How might we make prevention feel immediate and actionable by helping users connect everyday behaviors to clear, meaningful feedback?
2.MARKET CONTEXT
Competitive Landscape
Competitive Landscape
CGM apps provide accurate health data, but lack motivation, Behavioral apps encourage habits, but don’t show real health impact. None connect daily action with measurable outcomes.
CGM apps provide accurate health data, but lack motivation, Behavioral apps encourage habits, but don’t show real health impact. None connect daily action with measurable outcomes.
CGM Companion Apps
CGM Companion Apps
Data-heavy tools for glucose monitoring
Data-heavy tools for glucose monitoring
• Accurate physiological data
• Detailed tracking and trends
• Accurate physiological data
• Detailed tracking and trends
But: data is complex and rarely leads to clear action.
But: data is complex and rarely leads to clear action.
Generalized Behavioral Apps
Generalized Behavioral Apps
Motivational tools for habit formation
Motivational tools for habit formation
• Engaging, user-friendly experiences
• Effective for building habits
• Engaging, user-friendly experiences
• Effective for building habits
But: no physiological feedback to validate progress.
But: no physiological feedback to validate progress.
Where GluCoach Fits
Where GluCoach Fits
GluCoach bridges the gap between health data and behavior change.
While CGM apps show physiological signals and behavioral apps encourage habit formation, neither connects daily actions with clear health outcomes.
GluCoach combines personalized health data, psychological nudging, and a physical companion to turn physiological signals into clear, timely actions users can take.
GluCoach bridges the gap between health data and behavior change.
While CGM apps show physiological signals and behavioral apps encourage habit formation, neither connects daily actions with clear health outcomes.
GluCoach combines personalized health data, psychological nudging, and a physical companion to turn physiological signals into clear, timely actions users can take.
What this enables
What this enables
Clear feedback instead of complex charts
Low-friction action through a physical interface
A real-time connection between daily choices and health outcomes
Clear feedback instead of complex charts
Low-friction action through a physical interface
A real-time connection between daily choices and health outcomes
3.PRIMARY RESEARCH
Interviews: Understanding user motivations and barriers
Interviews: Understanding user motivations and barriers
To better understand how people approach prevention and lifestyle change, we conducted 6 in-depth interviews with individuals concerned about blood sugar health.
To better understand how people approach prevention and lifestyle change, we conducted 6 in-depth interviews with individuals concerned about blood sugar health.
The goal was to understand:
The goal was to understand:
How users currently track health habits
What motivates or discourages lifestyle change
Where existing health tools fall short
What kind of support feels encouraging rather than overwhelming
How users currently track health habits
What motivates or discourages lifestyle change
Where existing health tools fall short
What kind of support feels encouraging rather than overwhelming
These interviews helped clarify that the biggest challenge was not awareness, but sustaining healthy behaviors over time.
These interviews helped clarify that the biggest challenge was not awareness, but sustaining healthy behaviors over time.
Key Insights from 6 Interviews
Key Insights from 6 Interviews
“It doesn’t feel real because nothing happens right away.”
“I’m mostly guessing what works, there’s no clear feedback.”
“If it’s just an app, it’s easy to ignore.”
“It doesn’t feel real because nothing happens right away.”
“I’m mostly guessing what works, there’s no clear feedback.”
“If it’s just an app, it’s easy to ignore.”
1
Abstract threat with no immediate feedback
Abstract threat with no immediate feedback
Participants struggled to take pre-diabetes seriously because they felt fine and saw no immediate results. Daily choices felt disconnected from long-term health impact.
Participants struggled to take pre-diabetes seriously because they felt fine and saw no immediate results. Daily choices felt disconnected from long-term health impact.
2
Tangible engagement over digital-only
Tangible engagement over digital-only
Participants found physical cues more motivating than apps alone. Purely digital solutions were easy to ignore, while tangible reminders felt harder to forget.
Participants found physical cues more motivating than apps alone. Purely digital solutions were easy to ignore, while tangible reminders felt harder to forget.
4.SYNTHESIS
Turning insights into opportunity
Turning insights into opportunity
Interview insights were synthesized through affinity mapping to identify recurring behavioral patterns.
Interview insights were synthesized through affinity mapping to identify recurring behavioral patterns.
Awareness without action
Awareness without action
Participants understood the risks but struggled to translate awareness into consistent daily habits.
Participants understood the risks but struggled to translate awareness into consistent daily habits.
Tracking fatigue
Tracking fatigue
Many health apps require frequent manual logging, which quickly becomes burdensome and discouraging.
Many health apps require frequent manual logging, which quickly becomes burdensome and discouraging.
Motivation through small progress
Motivation through small progress
Participants responded more positively to systems that highlight achievable daily improvements.
Participants responded more positively to systems that highlight achievable daily improvements.
These interviews helped clarify that the biggest challenge was not awareness, but sustaining healthy behaviors over time.
These interviews helped clarify that the biggest challenge was not awareness, but sustaining healthy behaviors over time.
Insight → Product Shift
Insight → Product Shift
Insight
Insight
Pre-diabetic patients feel emotionally distant from their condition and struggle to stay engaged with prevention goals.
Pre-diabetic patients feel emotionally distant from their condition and struggle to stay engaged with prevention goals.
→
Product Shift
Product Shift
Move from a purely digital health app → to a hybrid digital + physical companion that creates tangible feedback in everyday life.
Move from a purely digital health app → to a hybrid digital + physical companion that creates tangible feedback in everyday life.
Persona
Persona
Erika (27)
Erika (27)
Grad Student · Family history of diabetes · Pre-diabetic
Grad Student · Family history of diabetes · Pre-diabetic
“I’m mostly guessing what works — there’s no clear feedback.”
“I’m mostly guessing what works — there’s no clear feedback.”
Goal
Goal
Wants to prevent diabetes without making life feel medical
Pre-diabetic patients feel emotionally distant from their condition and struggle to stay engaged with prevention goals.
Mindset
Mindset
Aware of risk, but not always urgent
Pre-diabetic patients feel emotionally distant from their condition and struggle to stay engaged with prevention goals.
Behavior
Behavior
Tracks data, but struggles to connect cause → effect
Pre-diabetic patients feel emotionally distant from their condition and struggle to stay engaged with prevention goals.
Friction
Friction
Results are delayed, so prevention feels invisible
Pre-diabetic patients feel emotionally distant from their condition and struggle to stay engaged with prevention goals.
Key Pain Points
Key Pain Points
Too much tracking
→ Data without meaning
No clear action guidance
→ Doesn’t know what to do next
Low motivation over time
→ Progress feels invisible
Pre-diabetic patients feel emotionally distant from their condition and struggle to stay engaged with prevention goals.
User Flow
User Flow
From tracking to a guided prevention habit
From tracking to a guided prevention habit
5.SOLUTION
A hybrid digital + physical health companion—with a SaaS analytics dashboard
A hybrid digital + physical health companion—with a SaaS analytics dashboard
GluCoach is a prevention-focused system that combines a mobile companion app, a physical device, and a web-based SaaS dashboard to make prevention feel immediate and actionable.
Rather than focusing on tracking metrics alone, the system helps users connect daily behaviors to clearer feedback—while giving a broader view of progress through structured tracking and trend insights.
GluCoach is a prevention-focused system that combines a mobile companion app, a physical device, and a web-based SaaS dashboard to make prevention feel immediate and actionable.
Rather than focusing on tracking metrics alone, the system helps users connect daily behaviors to clearer feedback—while giving a broader view of progress through structured tracking and trend insights.
Prototype
Prototype
Onboarding
Onboarding
Home Dashboard
Home Dashboard
Personal Insight
Personal Insight
Mobile companion app
Mobile companion app
Developed a functional mobile prototype to test alongside the physical companion, focusing on lightweight daily check-ins, behavior logging, and core flows such as onboarding and progress visualization.
Developed a functional mobile prototype to test alongside the physical companion, focusing on lightweight daily check-ins, behavior logging, and core flows such as onboarding and progress visualization.
Quick check-ins
Habit logging (food, activity, routines)
Progress feedback and next-step guidance
Quick check-ins
Habit logging (food, activity, routines)
Progress feedback and next-step guidance
Physical companion device
Physical companion device
Reinforces consistency beyond the screen through tangible cues.
Reinforces consistency beyond the screen through tangible cues.
Light / vibration feedback
Reminders and “small win” reinforcement
Presence in daily environments
Light / vibration feedback
Reminders and “small win” reinforcement
Presence in daily environments
Web SaaS dashboard (data + trends)
Web SaaS dashboard (data + trends)
A centralized view for tracking, analysis, and visibility over time—turning raw signals into scannable insights.
A centralized view for tracking, analysis, and visibility over time—turning raw signals into scannable insights.
Habit and behavior trends over time
Progress summaries and weekly patterns
Correlations between habits and outcomes
Structured views for reviewing goals, adherence, and changes
Habit and behavior trends over time
Progress summaries and weekly patterns
Correlations between habits and outcomes
Structured views for reviewing goals, adherence, and changes
Design System
Design System
Led the UI design independently, I explored and built a lightweight design system, defining visual tokens and reusable components to maintain consistency and scalability across the interface.
Led the UI design independently, I explored and built a lightweight design system, defining visual tokens and reusable components to maintain consistency and scalability across the interface.
6.REFLECTION
What I learned — Phase 1
What I learned — Phase 1
Context before features
Researching patient behavior and existing health tools helped define the right problem before designing solutions. That early context shaped which features actually belonged in the MVP.
Collaboration turns ideas into direction
With many ideas on the table, working closely with the team helped us refine and converge on a single product direction.
Physical touchpoints make prevention real
A small physical companion proved to be a powerful behavioral trigger. It reminded me that meaningful health experiences often extend beyond the screen.
Phase 1 complete. Currently refining the next iteration — more updates soon.
Next Steps
Next Steps