Novo Nordisk, Glooko Launch New Diabetes-Management App

Novo Nordisk has announced an expanded partnership with Glooko, in addition to the launch of a new diabetes-management app. Cornerstones4Care Powered by Glooko is available to consumers, effective today.

This new partnership enhances interoperability and integration for future Novo Nordisk-Glooko joint ventures. It also comprises larger efforts to expand Novo Nordisk’s digital health platform, a joint venture with IBM Watson Health, the company says.

According to a news release from Novo Nordisk, the company will be working on Glooko’s Digital Health Platform — a diabetic data storage and analysis system capable of providing people with diabetes and their caregivers real-time information.

Novo Nordisk says that this will enhance how it provides “concrete guidance” to healthcare workers and patients, in addition to demonstrating “the cost effectiveness of treatments to healthcare systems.”

Cornerstones4Care is free and available via Apple and Google Play. The app provides patients with diabetes the ability to monitor their blood glucose, meals and activities. Novo Nordisk says that the app also works in concert with many diabetes and exercise devices, highlighting trends that affect blood glucose levels.

David Moore, senior VP of marketing for Novo Nordisk, heralded the partnership as a way for the company to “aspire toward leadership in digital health that complements our research and expertise.”

“That was the catalyst to our partnership with Glooko as well as IBM Watson Health,” Moore said.

The news comes about two weeks after Roche announced its acquisition of mySugr, another app-based diabetes management platform. MySugr became commonplace in diabetes management with Logbook, which, like Glooko, allows patients to monitor and record blood glucose levels.

The benefits of app-based diabetes management have been highlighted by recent research. In its announcement, Roche cited a 6-month trial in which high-risk patients with diabetes used mySugr to monitor their blood glucose levels. Trial participants saw a mean eA1c reduction of 1.4% and a mean HBGI reduction of 62%.

Rick Altinger, CEO of Glooko, highlighted the value of the data Cornerstones4Care will provide.

“Ultimately our digital health care practitioners gain round-the-clock insight into their patients, and empower people with diabetes to better manage their diabetes, with the aim of ultimately leading to better diabetes management outcomes.”

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