Fitbit and Taiwan-based diabetes management app Health2Sync announced last week that Fitbit health, sleep and fitness data can now be integrated with the Health2Sync app to support Health2Sync’s 360,000 users in Taiwan and Japan to better manage their diabetes.

The voluntary integration of Fitbit data with the Health2Sync platform gives users who have a Fitbit account access to an in-app dashboard that now includes data from their Fitbit devices, including heart rate, sleep and physical activity, alongside recent blood glucose readings depicting if levels fall within, above or below the healthy range.

Integrating Fitbit into the platform provides Health2Sync users with a more holistic view of their health, which can support them in making healthy lifestyle choices to better manage their condition. According to a Diabetes Care journal article published in 2015, improved sleep can have an impact on the overall health of someone with type 2 diabetes. 

Sleep is a major issue for many people in North Asia – anonymised aggregated sleep data for 46 countries tracked by Fitbit shows that Taiwan ranks 38 and Japan 41, so the ability to track sleep and incorporate this data into Health2Sync’s services is great news for people in these countries. Under the partnership, Health2Sync app users will receive a special offer on Fitbit devices.

THE LARGER TREND

In March this year, Health2Sync partnered with Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd. in Japan to support digital diabetes management and facilitate communication between diabetics and healthcare providers. As part of the partnership, Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd. will support the distribution and adoption of the SyncHealth app and healthcare provider platform in Japan. Novo Nordisk Pharma aims to wirelessly connect its insulin delivery devices, enabling auto data recording of self-injected insulin.

Just late last month, Fitbit announced a partnership with Singapore’s Health Promotion Board (HPB) on a healthy population project in support of Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative. This is the wearable tech device company’s first major integration of a digital health platform and wearables into a national public health program globally. 

In Europe, Fitbit and Belgium-based FibriCheck recently announced that device owners living in certain UK countries now have access to a smartwatch app that uses photoplethysmography (PPG) to detect heart rhythm irregularities such as atrial fibrillation. Fitbit is continually diversifying its business through data-driven health tracking related partnerships, on top of releasing new personal wearable device products. 

ON THE RECORD

"We are excited to integrate Fitbit’s expertise in using technology and data to empower people to make meaningful behavior change that can drive positive health outcomes with the Health2Sync platform, said Steve Morley, Fitbit’s vice president and general manager, Asia Pacific, in a statement. “The integration will help Health2Sync users in Taiwan and Japan better see the impact of things like activity level on blood sugar levels, and provide them with support to make healthy lifestyle choices, like increased activity, shown to help manage type 2 diabetes.”

Ed Deng, CEO at Health2Sync, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Fitbit as a leading wearables brand to extend the benefits of our health management app to users. We understand that the key to successfully controlling diabetes is to ensure proactive management and continuous monitoring. We’re confident our comprehensive integrated health platforms for both patients and healthcare professionals, coupled with Fitbit’s easy to use, innovative devices and software features will help users to achieve both aims.”