Chinese smartphone glucometer Dnurse raises millions in series A

Chinese healthcare startup Dnurse announced yesterday that it has raised a round of series A funding led by SAIF Partners and Innovation works, according to Sina Tech. The exact sum of the funding was not disclosed, but it is reported to be in the “tens of millions” in RMB, which means it was likely at least US$1-2 million.

Dnurse produces a smartphone-compatible glucose monitor along with monitoring app software. The small monitor plugs directly into a phone’s headphone jack, and requires just a tiny amount of blood (0.6 microliters) to function. Once the blood has been sampled, users can check out the results and track their blood sugar over time using the free Android and iOS app. The app also offers reminders so that users don’t forget to test.

The investment is a timely one for SAIF and Innovation Works, as diabetes – the most common disease requiring a glucometer – has risen sharply in China over the past decade as income levels and lifestyles change. It is estimated that China now has more than 100 million diabetics, and the disease has become a full-blown public health crisis there. Most cases of diabetes are still undiagnosed, so only a fraction of those 100-million-plus diabetics are actually using glucometers, but that number is likely to rise sharply over the next five to ten years.

Dnurse plans to launch the second-gen version of its product later this month, and interested users will be able to take a stab at buying one of their own when it first goes on presale on JD.com this Valentine’s Day.

See: After seeing his parents battle diabetes for 25 years, an entrepreneur made a smart blood sugar tracker