KITLIVING
NEWS
REPORT
DEXCOM VIDEO
GLOBAL CHALLENGE
Can you help tackle Type 2?
Ascensia Diabetes Care has launched the
Ascensia Diabetes Challenge, a global
innovation competition that is seeking
innovative digital solutions to support
diabetes management and improve the
lives of those living with Type 2 diabetes.
The challenge aims to find new ways
to help tackle the management of the
global epidemic of Type 2 diabetes by
unearthing undiscovered solutions from
diabetes innovators. Finalists, runners-up
and the winner will all receive cash prizes
to support further development of their
ideas from a total prize fund of €200,000
(£150,000).
Through the challenge, Ascensia
aims to support companies that are
developing the next big leap forward in
digital solutions that could facilitate better
Type 2 diabetes management and help
relieve the burden it places on individuals,
healthcare systems and society. Although
solutions and therapies in this area
continue to improve year on year, many
of the emerging technologies currently
in development need further investment
to ensure they can play a critical role in
helping people with Type 2 diabetes to
better self-manage all aspects of their
condition.
Michael Kloss, CEO Ascensia Diabetes
Care says, "This challenge will not solve
the diabetes epidemic on its own, but it is
a critical step in the development of new
diabetes solutions. It aims to find, support
and nurture ideas from start-ups that have
the potential to revolutionize diabetes
management. We hope this challenge can
generate novel ideas from undiscovered
sources, and with Ascensia's support, we
want to be able to bring them to a global
patient population."
A judging panel, made up of
independent experts from diabetes and
digital health from across the world,
as well as members of the Ascensia
Medical, R&D and Commercial teams, will
assess the entries and determine finalists
and the winner. Dr. William Polonsky, a
clinical psychologist, Dr. Masood Nazir, a
general practitioner with a special interest
in diabetes and digital health, and Robin
Swindell, a Type 2 diabetes blogger, have
been confirmed as the first three judges,
and additional judges will be announced
later. Polonsky, President and Co-Founder
of the Behavioural Diabetes Institute,
San Diego, USA, says, "Behavioural
interventions are the key to enhancing
self-management in Type 2 diabetes, and
digital solutions are desperately needed
as a means to engage patients over
the long-term and enable sustainable
behaviour change. I am thrilled to be part
of the Ascensia Diabetes Challenge to try
and find the next innovations to address
the burden of Type 2 diabetes."
Entries can be submitted at
ascensiadiabeteschallenge.com