Diabetes patient creates Nido, a device to simplify daily insulin injections

nido (neat insulin daily organiser) was created directly from Zoey Chan’s own daily struggle with Type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed at 20, she suddenly had to inject insulin three to five times a day, often in public, while carrying loose needles, pens, caps, and used sharps that needed proper disposal in hard, puncture-resistant containers. The process felt “awkward, messy and isolating” and she found herself digging through her bag, fumbling with small components, and even resorting to using a spectacles case because nothing on the market was compact or organised enough. Through conversations with others with Type 1 diabetes, she realised this wasn’t just her problem: “the tools we were given were not really designed for us — not in terms of lifestyle, discretion, or emotional experience.”

For her Final Year Thesis in Industrial Design at the National University of Singapore, Zoey decided to confront this need head-on and design something that would let her — and others — reclaim control over their daily injection routine. Over about a year, she researched how different people inject insulin, tested early ideas with other users, and iterated through more than 120 prototypes, refining the design “down to the millimetre” to make it simple, flexible and intuitive.

The current version of nido is a compact device that organises and assists with daily insulin pen needle use. It can securely hold up to four insulin pen needles, roughly matching a typical day’s injections, with compartments that fit different brands and sizes. A tapered slot helps users safely remove the protective needle cap without dropping the needle or pricking their fingers, and there is a dedicated section for used parts and other waste. A clamp-like mechanism allows one-handed disposal of needles and used components, making the process safer, more discreet and less emotionally draining for people who inject insulin in rushed or public settings.

nido currently holds a provisional patent and remains in the development stage. Zoey is in talks with potential partners, recruiting more users to guide the next phase of refinement, and using early feedback from the diabetes community and healthcare professionals to move the device closer to everyday real-world use.

Adapted from:
https://vulcanpost.com/903197/nido-safer-insulin-injections-diabetes/
https://www.techedt.com/young-singapore-inventor-wins-james-dyson-award-...