Dubai Diabetes Breakthrough: GluCare Integrated Diabetes Center releases first round of clinical outcomes

• Success stories include “uncontrolled diabetic” patient who went into remission within 3-months
• GluCare’s outcomes offer hope to the millions of diabetics in the region and beyond

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: GluCare Integrated Diabetes Center, the world’s first healthcare provider to employ Integrated Continuous Data Monitoring as part of its standard care model, and the region’s first healthcare provider to use Digital Therapeutics (DTx), is releasing its promising preliminary patient outcomes. The report, available in full on GluCare’s website, shows positive outcomes for diabetes patients that on average, overwhelmingly exceed those of both traditional and other tech-enabled healthcare providers. 

Among the overall results of the GluCare patient group is an average HbA1c reduction of 1.7% points over 90 days. For diabetes patients, HbA1c is a key measure of how well controlled one’s blood sugar has been on average over a 3-month period. Studies[1] have shown that a reduction of just 1% point in HbA1c results in a 21% decrease in end-point diseases related to diabetes, a 21% reduction in diabetes-related deaths, a 14% decrease in heart attacks, and a 37% reduction in microvascular complications.  GluCare’s preliminary performance tops best-in-class programs globally that are generally achieving more modest reductions over a three-to-twelve-month period.

Other GluCare outcomes listed in the report include a 4.7% average reduction in total body weight, a 25% average reduction in LDL (low-density lipoprotein), and an average blood glucose time in range of 79%, well above the 70% recommended by the American Diabetes Association.[2]

Comparing Results

While there are no direct competitors to GluCare’s innovative integrated model of care, results available from other tech-enabled diabetes management platforms highlight the outstanding nature of what GluCare has achieved since launching in September 2020.  By comparison, Livongo, a US-based remote diabetes management platform (recently acquired by Teledoc), released HbA1c results in 2018 highlighting a 1% point reduction, and is considered market-leading in the DTx space.

Ali Hashemi, GluCare’s Co-Founder and Chairman, remarked on the pivotal implications for stakeholders:   “The cost of investing in these new models of care is exponentially less than doing nothing.  We hope to demonstrate to all our stakeholders over the long term – whether they be patients, governments, payors, or employers – that we are able to deliver a vastly superior set of outcomes, but at a lower unit cost.  In other words, better value.”

He continued: “Our north star is to change human behavior in a sustainable way, leading to improved outcomes. A little counterintuitively, we use advanced AI and technology as a humanizing force to engender this change.”

According to GluCare’s Managing Director and Co-Founder, Dr Ihsan AlMarzooqi, the GluCare’s successful outcomes are particularly significant given the growing issue of diabetes both locally, where 40% of the population are reported to be either diabetic or prediabetic, as well as internationally where diabetes continues to grow rapidly.

 “The cost of diabetes is enormous.  Not only at a societal and economic level, but fundamentally on an individual level. Our initial outcome results show that GluCare’s world-first model of care is not only effective, but it vastly outperforms traditional models of care.  Our integrated approach also outperforms newer stand-alone tech-enabled platforms. Being able to launch our model-of-care in a country where uncontrolled diabetes is so prevalent, and to prove its effectiveness, is a blessing.  It foreshadows what is possible for patients globally who have long suffered with inadequate care and support in a healthcare system that simply didn’t work for them.”

Unlike traditional healthcare providers, GluCare’s model of care sees patients’ key health parameters monitored by a team of clinicians 24/7 via wearable and connected technology. Among the technology is a proprietary clinical-grade multisensory wristband, an app, and a clinical platform which integrates with wearable continuous glucose monitors (CGM).  The platform also absorbs data from other IoT enabled technology that may include a smart weight scale and blood pressure cuff. The app displays glucose readings, insulin dosages, tracks activity and sleep, and has the ability to log meals as it also allows two-way communication between health coaches, and other clinicians, and patients. The proprietary integrated platform gives GluCare’s team of doctors, educators, nutritionists, and health coaches a comprehensive and 24/7 real-time view of patients. Artificial intelligence and machine learning also identify risk scores for co-morbidities for each patient that are shared with clinicians who are able to make medical interventions if necessary, between clinic visits.

Patient Success Stories

In line with outcome reporting from other diabetes care providers and platforms, GluCare’s results comprise of a sample of compliant[3] patients. Among them is 41-year-old Dubai resident John Duval, who was shocked to not only be diagnosed, and hospitalized for a week with Covid-19 in November of last year, but also learn at the same time that he had uncontrolled Type-2 diabetes. After he was dissatisfied with his initial diabetes care, he turned to GluCare. Three months later, he is now in remission.

“When I had my first consultation at GluCare, one of the things that put me at immediate ease was that they told me ‘we are with you on this journey’,” said Duval who originally hails from Austria. “After my first consultation with all the technology, I felt a little like a cyborg. I had a very strong mindset that I wanted to be cured of diabetes but being connected, monitored and having the continuous support of doctors & health coaches, as well as the educational content through the app, really made a difference. Not only did it keep me accountable to my care plan and myself, but it also offered peace of mind that my doctor was monitoring my progress as I navigated this diagnosis.”

For Dr AlMarzooqi, cases like John’s highlight the real benefit of GluCare’s model of care: “While technology is at the core of what we do, it is the application and use of that technology that allows us to connect with our patients in a more meaningful, impactful and supportive way. The use of data to understand our patient’s health allows us to be more present with them in-clinic and prescribe care more effectively. In between visits, this technology also allows us to connect with them and provide  meaningful support.  Our technology allows us to offer more a more human-centric approach to diabetes care, one that works as highlighted by our outcomes.”

The World Health Organisation estimates that 422 million people worldwide have diabetes with 1.6 million deaths directly attributed to condition each year. The organisation also estimates that diabetes is set to grow across the region to more than 42 million people by 2030. At present,  there are over 1.2  million people living with diabetes in the UAE alone. [4]

Since opening in September 2020, GluCare has been named the first healthcare provider in the United Arab Emirates to receive the coveted QISMET accreditation for its diabetes program. It was also the first in the region to offer diabetes patients the Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor, and the first in the region to implement artificial intelligence (AI) in retinal eye screenings, thanks to a partnership with Topcon Healthcare, a leading developer of diagnostic equipment for the ophthalmic community.

Currently accepting new patients across both juveniles and adults, insurance providers currently accepted at GluCare include NAS/Neuron, AXA, Al Madallah, Mednet and Nextcare.

For more information on GluCare, visit www.Glucare.Health

[1] Association of glycaemia with macrovascular and microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 35): prospective observational study - PubMed (nih.gov)

[2] CGM and Time in Range | ADA (diabetes.org)

[3]  Compliant patients are defined as those who meet the minimum internal engagement criteria set out including communication, use of

medical devices and signal tracking.

[4] https://idf.org/our-network/regions-members/middle-east-and-north-africa/members/49-united-arab-emirates.html

© Press Release 2021