︎ The Healthy Rhythm System
Reconguring Space and Technology to Support Diabetes Management
By Gino Zunzunegui ︎
Hypothesis
If a digital companion app is paired with a reconfigured apartment layout that supports healthy routines, then young adults like Austin Miller who live with Type 1 Diabetes will experience improved dietary habits, reduced stress, and greater consistency in daily health management.
If a digital companion app is paired with a reconfigured apartment layout that supports healthy routines, then young adults like Austin Miller who live with Type 1 Diabetes will experience improved dietary habits, reduced stress, and greater consistency in daily health management.
- Why
Austin often eats irregularly, studies in his bedroom, and has no separation between rest, eating, and work. This intensi es stress, depression, and poor eating habits.
- How
Redesign his apartment interior to create functional zones, while pairing the space with a digital app that syncs with his continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to support routines.
- What
Austin’s apartment is recongured to invlude a small healthy nook for meals, relaxation, and health checks, separated from his bedroom. A paired digital app syncs with his glucose monitor to prompt meals, track carbs with simplke visuals, and guide him to use this space for healthier rutines.
- So What
Austin develops a healthier rhythm to his day: app prompts guide his decisions, and the recongured interior reinforces those rutines. His diet improves, stress decrease, and his bedroom reserved for rest, supporting mental health.
The Link Between Design and Outcomes
The Healthy Rhythm System integrates digital support with interior reconguration to help Austin manage his Type 1 Diabetes, reduce stress, and create healthier daily routines. The intervention begins by carving out a Healthy Nook in his small apartment — a dened space distinct from his bedroom, designed for eating, recharging, and mental balance. This area uses compact furniture, calming lighting, and transparent food storage to promote healthier routines and reduce the overlap between studying, sleeping, and eating. The physical intervention is paired with a digital companion app that connects to Austin’s continuous glucose monitor (CGM). The app sends timely reminders when his blood sugar is rising or dropping, simpli es carb counting with visual “tra c light” food categories, and prompts him to step into his Healthy Nook for meals or breaks. Together, the app and interior cues create a rhythm of consistent meals, stress relief, and improved self-management. By combining information (app) with interior design, Austin’s environment becomes an active partner in his care. Outcomes can include:- More regular eating habits- Lower stress- Increased independence and self-condence in managing diabetes.- Blamnca between academic and personal life.
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