A diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes is a scary thing for a child – especially considering the treatment is having to prick yourself with a massive, menacing needle multiple times a day. What’s worse: the equipment kids need to keep themselves well is not user-friendly. The insulin pens are too big for their hands, and the process is painful and confusing. Oh, and did we mention they’re scary? 

Product designer and real-life Mary Poppins Souza Luque knows that it takes a little more than a spoonful of sugar to help this meddy go down. Thumy (formerly Thomy) started with temporary tattoos, which map out spots for injection and disappear as the darling-heart diabetics use each one. Why? For insulin administration to be effective, patients need to vary the location of injection each time. Luque redesigned the pen to look and feel like a toy with a funky feature: a release valve wrapped in thermochromic plastic, meaning it changes colour when it comes into contact with skin. This motivates kids to keep the valve touching their skin longer, making the treatment much more effective. We’ve loved following this brilliant product’s journey, especially now that Thumy‘s available for sale and distribution in Mexico.