Diabetes is a disease that affects approximately 3.8 million people living in Canada— 9.6% of the population—and brings with it a huge individual and family cost. Diabetes contributes to heart attack, strokes, kidney failure, blindness and leg and foot amputations. It can reduce an individual’s lifespan by five to 15 years.
Diabetes also has a significant financial impact. Diabetes in Canada estimated that managing Type 2 diabetes could cost up to 7% of a family’s income. That number jumps to 12% for Type 1 diabetes.
On a societal level, Diabetes in Canada estimated that in 2024, diabetes directly cost the Canadian healthcare system $5.4 billion.
But the most shocking statistic? The majority of cases of diabetes are potentially preventable or delayable. The Public Health Agency of Canada reported that 90-95% of cases of diabetes are Type 2, which can be prevented or managed with lifestyle changes.
Vancouver’s D2Type Health saw an opportunity to use technology and scientific evidence to help individuals prevent, delay and reverse prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.
Can you tell us about D2Type Health?
D2Type Health was founded in 2022 with the mission of empowering individuals and organizations to prevent and manage diabetes through innovative, AI-driven solutions and personalized lifestyle medicine.
Since our inception, we have successfully developed and validated our platform through a pilot funded by the BC Ministry of Health, which demonstrated measurable improvements in key lifestyle metrics, including weight loss and blood glucose management. During this pilot, we refined our app based on user feedback, incorporating gamified elements, personalized notifications, and enhanced user engagement features.
Today, we are focused on scaling our impact by partnering with health authorities across Canada, as well as employers and insurers, to improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance productivity. As we continue to grow, our mission remains to make diabetes prevention and management accessible, personalized, and effective for everyone.
What IP challenges were you facing that made you decide to take part in the AccelerateIP program?
As a growing digital health company, we recognized the critical importance of safeguarding our intellectual property to maintain our competitive edge.
Before joining the program, we faced challenges in navigating the complexities of IP management, including identifying patentable innovations, understanding international IP regulations, and ensuring comprehensive protection of our technology. AccelerateIP provided the guidance, resources, and expertise we needed to overcome these challenges and confidently advance our IP journey.
What impact did AccelerateIP have on your business?
Participating in the AccelerateIP program has had a transformative impact on our ability to develop and execute a robust IP strategy. Stream 1 of the program equipped us with the knowledge and tools to identify and protect our core innovations, ensuring a competitive edge for our AI-driven diabetes management platform.
Recently, through a Stream 3 project, we submitted our first U.S. provisional patent. While it is still early to measure the full impact, this milestone has already addressed a key concern of potential investors and was acknowledged by one as increasing our valuation by 10-15%.
Additionally, the program provided helpful funding for legal costs related to IP strategy development, significantly easing our financial burden.
