Dive Brief:
- Diabetes data management firm Glooko launched a new web analytics platform this week, including navigation and analytics tools such as charts and graphs.
- The new version of the Glooko Web Application is an outgrowth of the company's 2016 merger with fellow diabetes data management company Diasend.
- Glooko had raised more than $35 million in Series C funding last year from the likes of Mayo Clinic, Medtronic and Samsung to expand its sales, marketing and development teams.
Dive Insight:
The shift to value-based care and population health has seen an explosion of tools and services to help people manage diabetes and other chronic conditions. Innovations in the diabetes management space have ranged from glucose monitors, advanced insulin jet injectors and an artificial pancreas to digital monitoring of blood sugar levels and predictive analytics. The Cleveland Clinic’s list of top 10 medical innovations that will disrupt healthcare in 2018 listed the artificial pancreas as No. 1.
The global needle-free diabetes management market is expected to reach $16.8 million by 2025, growing 17.8% year over year, according to P&S Market Research. Major players include Medtronic, Zogenix and Pharmajet. Tech giants like Apple and Google parent Alphabet are also eyeing the space, as are a number of new companies such as Glooko.
In addition to navigation tools, Glooko’s new platform includes education on how exercise, carbohydrates and medication impact glucose levels, insulin pump reports and a PDF wizard for report viewing and sharing.
The tool also includes support for the International Diabetes Center’s ambulatory glucose profile, a standard used by clinicians.
Despite growing interest in diabetes management, there is little evidence on the benefits of diabetes self-management apps, according to a recent technical brief by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Of the hundreds of apps currently available, only 11 have been tested in clinical trials, and none of those was notably rigorous, AHRQ said. And while five of the 11 showed meaningful improvements in HbA1c, none showed improvements in blood pressure, weight or body mix index or quality of life.