Computer game targets diabetic children
By Ryan Huang, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 October 2008 2249 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Managing diabetes could be as easy as child's play. That's what a computer game sets out to achieve.

Through the fun of gaming, it hopes to help diabetic children understand and manage their condition.

In the game, a patient plays the role of a top agent against an evil Dr Glucko.

The patient's condition is reflected through the player's character, which requires it to be given the correct diet and medicine at the right time.

Called GRIP, the game simulates what one would experience with unbalanced sugar levels.

Jurriaan van Rijswijk, director of Games Factory Online, said: "Everybody has playing genes inside their bodies, everybody loves to play. And gaming is quite a good training instrument. So we thought if we can help people to train while playing a game, then it's both fun and you learn something."

The game can be customised to reflect a patient's current health condition.

It also allows parents to monitor how their children are learning to cope with their illness.

The game was launched this year in the Netherlands, and won a top innovation award there.

It is expected to be available in Singapore by year's end.

About 9 per cent of Singapore's population has diabetes, and it is estimated that every year, 20 to 40 children and teenagers develop Type 1 diabetes, where the body fails to produce insulin.

According to the World Health Organisation, over 180 million people worldwide have diabetes and that number is expected to double by 2030.

- CNA/ir