Health2Sync gets $6m to defuse Asia’s ticking diabetes timebomb

Health2Sync co-founder and CEO Ed Deng. Photo credit: Health2Sync

Health professionals in Asia have become increasingly vocal in recent years about the challenges posed by diabetes, and for good reason.

Asians have a higher genetic risk of developing diabetes than people of European descent, in spite of the latter group’s generally higher incidence of obesity, says the Asian Diabetes Prevention Initiative, an organization backed by the National University of Singapore.

Diabetics face a lifetime of meticulous monitoring: They need to keep close track of their food intake as well as blood sugar levels, which can be regulated in many cases by regular injections of insulin.

It’s a complicated life for patients, but technology can play a positive role in helping them manage their condition. Beyond biotech and medical devices, a number of app-based platforms have emerged to do just that. Diabeto and HealthPlix are just two of the Asia-Pacific startups that are addressing this problem.

Another is Taipei-based Health2Sync, which announced today that it has raised US$6 million in its series B funding round.

Tokyo’s Sompo Holdings, an insurance services provider, led the round. Existing investors such as Alibaba and WI Harper, a China-focused VC firm from the US, also participated.

How it works

The Health2Sync mobile app lets patients to track vitals such as blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and weight, along with factors that influence those readings such as diet, exercise, and medication. It offers analyses, reminders, and educational content that can help them improve the daily management of their condition.

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A diabetes patient testing their blood sugar levels using a meter. Photo credit: andreypopov / 123RF

Moreover, patients’ family members and friends of  can also be connected through the app, allowing them to provide support.

Diabetics have traditionally been coached in managing their condition through regular appointments with care providers. The health worker will look at the patient’s glucose meter or physical logbook, and chat with the patient to understand their behavior and identify opportunities for change.

The artificial intelligence built into Health2Sync means that coaching can happen in real time, allowing diabetes educators to remotely care for a large number of patients simultaneously, Health2Sync co-founder and CEO Ed Deng told Tech in Asia.

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