An Edinburgh-developed AI-powered ‘smart injection device’ for diabetes patients has won national recognition at a prestigious innovation awards ceremony.
Particle physicist Abhishek Bohare, 29, a University of Edinburgh graduate, designed BetaSync which uses advanced sensors to recommend the safest site to deliver insulin with minimal discomfort.
The potentially life-changing device could make insulin delivery safer, easier and less stressful for patients living with Type 1 diabetes, and collected the StartUp runners-up prize of £1,500 at the ESBF Champion of Champions Competition in London.
The device, which reduces tissue damage, simplifies site rotation and cuts medical waste by optimising needle use, has particular salience for Abhishek, who has lived with Type 1 since birth.
He said: “I feel grateful to see BetaSync recognised at the ESBF Champion of Champions Competition. Receiving this award means a lot to me. It shows that ESBF recognises the real need behind BetaSync and the effort to make daily diabetes care safer and more manageable for everyone who depends on insulin. This support will help us move closer to completing the first fully functional prototype and begin early trials.
“Frequent daily injections often damage tissue and create long-term complications, especially when patients have limited safe injection sites. BetaSync seeks to transform diabetes self-care into a safer, smarter, and more user-friendly experience.”
He said: “I have lived with type 1 diabetes since birth and know how daily injections damage tissue, cause anxiety, and make life harder. Existing devices do not fully solve these problems. I now coach people on diabetes management and see the pain and frustration it brings, especially for children.
“The number of young people living with type 1 diabetes is rising worldwide. When I was a child, there were no proper education programmes, and I struggled to manage my own condition. Today, I want to change that.”
The event at the Royal Academy of Engineering was hosted by TV presenter and engineer Rob Bell. It is the culmination of a year of ESBF-sponsored enterprise competitions held across UK universities, with thousands of undergraduate and graduates taking part.
