Why is it such a big deal if someone does not take their medications as prescribed? Let's zoom into a couple of cases and explore the consequences of not following prescribed medical treatment. For diabetic patients, it is essential to check insulin levels several times a day, as frequent low insulin levels can lead to nerve damage, damaged eyesight, and kidney damage, among a host of other ailments. High blood pressure or high cholesterol levels are other examples that, if not treated regularly, can drastically reduce life expectancy. On the other hand, low blood pressure can put the patient in instant danger, because falls can occur when blood pressure drops below a threshold. While this is bad enough for the patient, not taking medications as directed also puts the wider population at risk. For example, a patient who doesn't follow the prescribed times and doses of antibiotic treatments can increase exposure to others of the number of drug-resistant germs. The resulting infections are difficult to treat. In short, a medicine reminder could help increase the quality of life of patients, shorten illnesses, reduce doctor visits or hospital stays, and reduce the need for more expensive (and toxic) medications.