Diabetes Challenge - Win $10,000

I love finding new and exciting websites dealing with health care. I recently found this fantastic website dealing with diabetes. www.DiabetesMine.com

Since starting my own website regarding health care, medical informatics, blogging, and book reviews; I have been entranced by websites that are well put together.

To make things even better, I noticed that this website was holding a competition. The competition is called: The 2009 DiabetesMine™ Design Challenge and it started in 2007initially as an answer to a question posed by the writter of DiabetesMine. It then enlarged to a more creative and organized concept. Last years winners received $10,000 dollars. Second prize for the "most original" took home $5,000. A third winner in the category of best design by
someone under 18 or "kids category" grabbed $2,000. This year the prizes are the same.

I was hooked the moment I read about this contest. And the amazing part was that all it asked for was an "innovative new diabetes device or web application". This competition isn't necessarily asking
for a finished product but I am sure that would help improve your chances.



I read further and found that only a handful of participants were in the original competition. I felt my chances were pretty good!!

My ideas weren't amazing but they were useful and helpful to my website and my goal of interaction with health care and diabetes. So I started to tackle some brain storming issues and how to get things into place.

It worked well and I came up with an idea for an animation to explain the process of diabetes in a way that would be beneficial for someone who had just learned of their diagnosis. I am trying to work
with students from Brigham Young University and their animation department.

I entered the competition and the results just came in today. I didn't win. Often winning isn't the most important thing for an entrepreneur but it certainly would have helped.

The amazing aspect is that over 150 teams entered the competition each with a design to improve diabetes health care and to win $10,000.

The winner for 2009 is LifeCase & LifeApp System. They designed an application that allows an iPhone to become an all encompassing glucometer and case with a controller for your pump built in.
It appears that this system could work for any smartphone.



This was definitely a great opportunity and more importantly a fantastic competition that allows a group of people to express their concepts and ideas.

Please take some time to take a look at all the concepts for this year at www.diabetesmine.com

My own entry can be found at the following: The Animation Dialogue

Unfortunately the competition has already been decided, at least for this year - but next year isn't too far away and maybe you can be the next $10,000 winner!!!

This original blog can be found at Health Blog

What is the Swine flu and why is it such a concern??
- The Swine flu is a type of Influenza

- Influenza is a type of virus from a class of viruses called Orthomyxoviruses

- There are 5 main types of this virus and the swine influenza is a subtype of one of the 5.

- Influenza A is the major player in many flu symptoms and epidemics each year

- As history speaks this type of virus can be very dangerous - Caution should be prudent but at this time not enough is known for a panic

Why is it called the Swine Virus?
- Some virus affect only animals and some affect both animals and humans

- This specific virus has some Swine DNA and can affect both pigs and humans

- It can be referred to as Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1)

- Recently name was changed by CDC to Influenza A H1N1

Has the Swine Flu ever been seen before?
- Unfortunately yes

- The Spanish Flu of 1918 saw the death of over 50 million people due to a Swine influenza

- It was somewhat different in subtype then the current virus of 2009

- Influenza C can also be found in swine but is not at risk during this outbreak

- It is typically rather rare

What makes this virus different?
- It is made up of several strains

- H1N1 - is made up of two seperate swine influenza virus, one avian influenza virus and humun influenza virus

Are there other influenza type virus?
Yes:

1.) Swine Influenza

2.) Avian [Bird] Influenza

3.) Horse Influenza

4.) Dog Influenza

What can we do?

Prevention is the key
- Wash hands

- Limit touching face and eyes

- Limit contact with those who are sick

- Don't overreact

Original post seen at http://www.iahealth.net/swine-flu

References include:

CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_flu