7th February 2022
Data has shown that the EIT Health-supported type 2 diabetes prevention platform, Health Integrator, significantly reduces elevated blood sugar in people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Health Integrator, is an innovative platform that provides support for those at high risk of developing the condition, utilising a ‘health bond’. The bond is financed through a loan provided by Skandia, an insurance company, and therefore does not rely on existing healthcare budgets. As part of the EIT Health project, Health Movement, the pioneering health bond scheme was designed to support the prevention of type 2 diabetes, improving the lives of citizens but also reducing costs to healthcare services. At the end of the project, the spinout company, Health Integrator, was launched to continue the work, which has also been supported by EIT Health’s accelerator to access investment, partners, and strategic business support.
The platform is currently open to those in Stockholm, Sweden, for people between the ages of 50 and 60 who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Users are paired with an individual health coach who works with them to agree the required health goals to reverse their impending risk of type 2 diabetes and provides access to an array of services to help them meet those goals including nutritionists, psychologists, physical activity, and smoking cessation.
Since its launch, 210 people have now completed their six-month assessment which includes a blood test and other health checks. The data from assessments demonstrates that 43% are no longer at risk of type 2 diabetes. Average weight loss is also almost 4 kilos.[1]
“These results are truly encouraging – the initial data is promising, but I am also interested in the testimonials of those who have been helped by this platform, who overwhelming say it has been an extremely positive experience for them. With this platform, we are proving that prevention is possible without demanding more and more budget from healthcare services or investing more in treating diseases and conditions once they are diagnosed. It’s crucial that we gather more data as well as scaling out and / or replicating this model across Europe so that we can begin to address one of the biggest health challenges we face with the pinnacle of ambition, which is to prevent it from occurring at all,” said Jan-Philipp Beck, CEO, EIT Health.
Type 2 diabetes care costs the Stockholm Region about 2.5 billion annually. Based on the initial Health Integrator data, there is the potential to avoid healthcare costs of approximately SEK 1.4 billion per year within the region alone.[2] Utilising the data collected, the Health Integrator team now intend to initiate discussions with regional authorities to expand the programme; initially to the rest of Sweden and the Nordics, Holland, Germany, and the UK.
Hear more about the Health Integrator story:
Health Integrator 2022, Six-month survey of 210 participants enrolled in the Health Integrator programme. Data on file.
Region Stockholm 2022, The risk of developing type 2 diabetes decreased after new treatment. Data on file.
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