A startup invents a connected watch to monitor diabetes in real time

Connected health is a booming industry, as evidenced by watches capturing the pulse and oxygen levelthe trackers of sleep where the connected scales. But if most of these objects remain gadgets for hypochondriacs, certain innovations bring a real benefit for patients suffering from chronic pathologies. This is the case for example of the connected watch K’Watch Glucosedeveloped by the Parisian start-up PKvitalitywhich continuously measures glucose levels.

” There are 460 million diabetics worldwide, 100 million of whom need to monitor their blood sugar carefully to adjust their insulin dose “, attests Minh Lê, General Manager PKvitality. And the disease is unfortunately in strong progression, with the increase inobesitysedentary lifestyle and longerlife expectancy. ” Some diabetics have to prick their finger more than 10 times a day when their diabetes is unstable “says the entrepreneur. For several years, manufacturers have developed Continuous Blood Glucose Monitors (CGMs), in the form of patch to stick on the skin. But Minh Lê and his partner Luc Piérart quickly noticed dissatisfaction with these devices. ” First, the patch may hurt when inserted. Secondly, the adhesive that is supposed to last 10 to 14 days tends to peel off, which forces it to be replaced more often and therefore generates non-reimbursed costs or tinkering to make it last a few additional days, which is unattractive. Finally, the patch is a marker of the disease that we are obliged to expose unless we change our clothing habits”, lists Minh Lê. In addition, all these devices have a cost.

A painless patch with microneedles

” With the connected watch, we solve all these problems promotes Minh Lê. The device is actually made up of two parts: a patch with almost invisible and painless microtips that attaches to the wrist, and a connected watch that covers it and captures the information. ” This way the patch is protected and stays in place. Moreover, as all the electronics are remote in the watch and not in the patch itself, the latter costs much less and causes less waste », assures the director. Like any good connected watch, this one obviously gives the time, and also measures the caloriesthe activity physical or the heartbeat, so many elements that also have a impact on the glucose level. ” But we have voluntarily limited the functions to the most usefulinsists Minh Le. The product, if it must be able to address all diabetic patients, must also be able to be easily used by an older public than traditional users of connected watches, a public unaccustomed to new technologies. “.

Better follow-up = better prognosis

In addition to its simplicity, the K’Watch Glucose provides much finer monitoring of blood sugar. ” This will help the patient on a daily basis to understand how their body reacts to food or physical activity.explains Minh Le. At a given blood sugar level, the patient will be able to take a dose ofinsulin adequate when he sees that his blood sugar level is rising very quickly. Before, he just had a photo allowing him to appreciate the trend and therefore he could not finely adjust “. The watch can be connected to a application smartphone and the data is stored confidentially in the Orange cloud. ” Eventually, the data could be shared with the doctor following the patient to enable him to give advice on lifestyle or on the treatment to be followed. », continues the entrepreneur. If the patient agrees, the anonymized data may also be used for scientific research purposes to improve understanding of the diabetes.

Launched in 2016, PKvitality has already raised 15 million euros, but its connected watch still has many steps to take to reach the market. ” We have just launched the recruitment of our first clinical trial », rejoices Minh Lê. Once the results have been validated, all that remains is to obtain European certification, which can take six to twelve months.

Support from 3DEXPERIENCE Lab

PKvitality has been a beneficiary of the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab acceleration program for two years now. The first benefit is for the mechanical team. ” We could not have developed the solution without Dassault Systèmes and the 3D Experience platform, in particular the software of CAD like Catia. These tools saved us in particular when we switched to 100% teleworking overnight during the first confinement. Today, they allow us a fluid collaboration with various partners around the world. explains Minh Le.

The second benefit is found in the support of the Dassault Systèmes team, whether technical with expert mentors, training on the platform or visibility thanks to the many events in which they have involved the start-up.

” It has always been very fluid, with a team that is always there to help us, to support us concludes Minh Le.

Article produced in partnership with the PKvitality and Dassault Systèmes teams