Diabetes Science Project Ideas

Here's how.

If you have diabetes or know someone who does, you may be especially interested in doing a science project that explores a specific angle of diabetes. From the data you may be collecting with your continuous glucose monitor and carb counting to the ways in which factors like exercise affect blood glucose to technology and engineering related to diabetes tools and devices, there are all kinds of exciting projects you can explore.

Science Projects

Food Science, Glucose, and Carbohydrates

Measuring Glucose in Food	How Many Sugars in a Smoothie?	Uncovering Hidden Sugar	Comparing Sugar Substitutes

Use a color-change test to see the concentration of glucose in fruits and juices.	Why do some ingredients cause less of a rise in blood sugar than others?	What does digestion have to do with how much glucose we absorb from different foods?	Adapt this project to compare the impact of different sugar substitutes on blood sugar.

Health and Human Biology

What are the Odds?	Blood Sugar Balancing Act	Electrolyte Challenge	10,000 Steps a Day

Use a model to investigate how a person's genetics affect their chances of getting Type 1 Diabetes.	Investigate how blood glucose levels change with exercise and how the effect may vary person to person.	Electrolytes are important for all athletes. How do different sugar-free electrolyte drinks compare?	Can you create a diabetes-related project based on wearing a fitness tracker?

Engineering, Bioengineering, and Computer Science

Developing an Artificial Pancreas	Making a Personal Medicine App	Why Aren't All Medicines Pills?	Diabetes: The Teaching Game

Build a model of an artificial pancreas and explore the challenges involved in this kind of system.	Make it your own! What kind of reminder app might help a person with diabetes?	Use jello shapes to model insulin and explore why some medicines work in pill form and others do not.	Adapt this project to create a game that teaches about diabetes. See also: An Ocean-Friendly Fishing Video Game.

Learn More About Diabetes

Diabetes on the Science Buddies Blog


Student Biomedical Engineering Projects with Real-world Connections	Fostering Diabetes Awareness through Student STEM	Science, Biochemistry, and Sugar	More Diabetes Science on the Blog

Diabetes Science News


Earlier gestational diabetes diagnosis, less weight gain	Blood test could predict diabetes years before it strikes	A sole mate to prevent diabetic foot ulcers	Telehealth during COVID-19 may lead to better outcomes for diabetes patients


No-deductible preventive drugs lower costs, increase medication use for low-income diabetes patients	First map of proinsulin's 'social network' reveals new drug target for type 2 diabetes	Experimental two-in-one shot may give diabetics a better way to control their blood sugar	'Excretion of sugar into stool'? New action of anti-diabetic drug discovered

Diabetes Related Careers

STEM Career Related to Diabetes: Educator

Certified Diabetes Educator

Endocrinologist

Epidemiologist

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