"Triathlete Reverses Diabetes Type 2: Fundraising $1.6 Million After Hacking His Own Health"
Article:
Vively, a digital health company, has announced that it has secured $1.6 million in seed funding, with Archangel Ventures leading the round and participation from Bupa Ventures and other investors. The funds will be used to expand the company's partnership with Bupa and democratize access to continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) for the masses.
Tim Veron, founder of Vively, personally experienced the importance of CGMs when he was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. Knowing his family history of type-two diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and Alzheimer's, Veron took it upon himself to reverse his condition. After spending substantial sums on dietitians, naturopaths, and special tests, he found that a CGM was key to understanding his body and health.
A CGM is a wearable device that measures sugar levels in the fluid beneath the skin, providing real-time data to a smartphone. Veron found that his love for oat milk lattes was causing high blood sugar levels, contributing to an energy slump and poor sleep. After adjusting his diet and lifestyle based on CGM insights, he managed to reverse his pre-diabetes condition within six months.
Before Vively, it was difficult for individuals to access CGMs without a doctor's prescription. With the company's partnership with Bupa, the cost of a CGM kit, including the device, Vively app, and dietician coaching, is now available for $99. This partnership aims to make CGMs accessible to the masses and address the issue of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, dementia, some cancers, and type-2 diabetes.
According to a 2021 Nature study of 2,217 people, ranging from healthy to diabetic, the majority experienced weight loss and improved blood glucose levels while wearing a CGM with a health-coach app. This underscores the potential benefits of CGMs and digital health programs in addressing metabolic syndrome.
Vility plans to expand into New Zealand and the UK, with tests underway in the US. The company now has 20,000 customers and generates $3 million in annual revenue, growing at 100% year-over-year. The recent funding will support global expansion and the development of AI coaching on the platform.
Bupa, a leading international health and care organization, has expressed enthusiasm for the potential of CGMs and digital metabolic health programs to benefit their members and reduce costs associated with type-2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic dysfunction. Collaborations between Vively and healthcare providers like Bupa will play a significant role in scaling the use of CGMs and promoting metabolic health improvements among the population.
About one-third of Americans and 30% of Australians are thought to have metabolic syndrome, with similar prevalence in urban India and China. The growing influence of modern diets is contributing to the large number of individuals affected by this cluster of conditions. Vively's aim is to leverage technology to solve the problem not only for millions but also for Tim Veron, who experienced the power of CGMs firsthand.
References:[1] Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics. 2021;23(12):2539-2549. doi: 10.1089/dia.2021.0781.[2] Diabetes Care. 2022;45(6):947-954. doi: 10.2337/dc21-2760.[3] Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2022;24(6):e43800. doi: 10.2196/43800.[4] Frost & Sullivan. 2021. Global Continuous Glucose Monitoring Market, Forecast to 2026.[5] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 2022. Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems for Over-the-Counter Use in Monitoring Glycemia in Adults with Diabetes: Summary Report.
- The funding secured by Vively will not only help expand its partnership with Bupa but also democratize access to continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), benefiting individuals in managing chronic diseases like type-2 diabetes.
- As technology advances, nutrition plays a crucial role in fitness and exercise, and understanding one's body through CGMs can lead to significant improvements in health and wellness, as demonstrated by Tim Veron's personal journey.
- Vility's ambitious goal is to leverage technology to address the global issue of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that includes type-2 diabetes, by making CGMs accessible and affordable to the masses.
- In line with the growing concern over metabolic syndrome, the collaboration between digital health companies like Vively and healthcare providers such as Bupa will drive the use of CGMs and digital metabolic health programs, promoting health improvements among the population.
