Systems and methods for management of medical condition

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to a self-contained kit for medical condition monitoring and maintenance, such as the monitoring and maintenance of blood sugar levels. The kit is compact and includes components structurally retained therein for use without removal, wherein these components are normally separate and loose. Such components could include a glucose meter, an insulin pen and a lancing apparatus. Other embodiments of the invention relate to a computer system and method for monitoring a medical condition, monitoring a medical condition over time, correlating recorded results with environmental factors such as location, time and meals consumed. A method may also enable individual users to share information to provide support to one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kit for testing the level of a substance in bodily fluid, the kit being portable and comprising:
 (a) an outer casing having dimensions no greater than 6″ in length, 1½″ in width and 1½″ in depth;   (b) one or more cavities inside of the outer casing, the one or more cavities for retaining one or more devices used for testing the level of a substance in the bodily fluid;   (c) a meter programmed to determine the level of substance in the bodily fluid, the meter positioned in a compartment of the outer housing;   (d) a display that displays the level of the substance in the bodily fluid; and   (e) a port into which bodily fluid is placed so the meter can determine the level of bodily fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein the outer casing is comprised of one or more of plastic and metal. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein the outer casing has dimensions no greater than 5″ in length, 1″ in width and 1½″ in depth. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1  that weighs 0.5 lbs. or less. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 1  that weighs 0.25 lbs. or less. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1  that has a plurality of cavities defined within the outer casing and each of the plurality of cavities retains one or more different devices than the other of the plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 6  wherein one cavity includes lances and test strips and the other cavity includes needles. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein the meter is a glucose meter that has a digital display that displays the substance level and the outer casing has an opening through which the display can be viewed. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein the meter is removable from the compartment in which it is positioned. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein the port extends into the meter. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 10  wherein the meter is activated only when a test strip is positioned in the port. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein the meter is activated by an off/on switch accessible through the outer casing. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 1  that includes an insulin pen. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13  wherein the insulin pen is contained in a cavity in the outer casing. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14  wherein the insulin pen has a first end that includes an adjustment mechanism that adjusts an amount of insulin to be injected and a second end that receives a needle to inject insulin into a user, wherein outer casing has a first end and a second end, and the adjustment mechanism protrudes from the first end of the outer casing and the second end of the insulin pen protrudes from the second end of the outer casing;
 wherein a user can adjust the insulin level, place a needle on the second end of the insulin pen and inject himself/herself without removing the insulin pen from the kit. 
 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 1  that includes a lancet apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 16  wherein the lancet apparatus is contained in a second compartment of the outer housing. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 17  wherein the lancet apparatus has an end through which a lance extends when the apparatus is activated, and a button to activate the apparatus and extend the lance through the end. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18  wherein there is an opening in the outer casing through which the button can be accessed. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 18  wherein the second end of the outer casing has an opening that aligns with the end of the lancet apparatus through which the lance extends when the lancet apparatus is activated, such that the lance extends through the opening in the outer casing when the lancet apparatus is activated.