Reversing Type 2 Diabetes With Virta Health’s Sami Inkinen
Mar 20, 2022
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Sami Inkinen, CEO of Virta Health, discusses reversing type 2 diabetes. The conversation explores the failures of traditional treatments and the need to reverse the disease. They highlight the potential of technology in personalized care and integrating care for patients. The financial impact and longitudinal data in reversing type 2 diabetes are explored, along with the high engagement rates and patient retention of Virta Health's program.
Diabetes can potentially be reversed through nutrition-based treatments and lifestyle changes, challenging the traditional understanding of the disease and the need for medication.
The use of technology and AI in healthcare can empower care team members and deliver personalized support to patients, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes and sustained behavior change.
Deep dives
The Shift Towards Disease Reversal in Diabetes Management
In this podcast episode, the focus is on the changing approach to managing diabetes, specifically type 2 diabetes. Traditionally, diabetes has been viewed as a chronic progressive disease, with the primary goal being to manage blood sugar levels and slow down the disease's progression through medication. However, there is now a growing recognition that diabetes can potentially be reversed through nutrition-based treatments and lifestyle changes. The conversation discusses the large number of individuals affected by diabetes in the United States, highlighting the need for a different approach. The importance of evidence supporting diabetes reversal is emphasized, showcasing how clinical trials and peer-reviewed papers have contributed to changing perceptions. Additionally, the role of nutrition science and the ability to provide continuous remote care through smartphones in delivering successful outcomes are explored. The engagement and support provided to patients, as well as the integration of care with primary care physicians, are also discussed as key factors in achieving long-lasting behavior change and sustained reversal of the disease.
The Journey and Motivation behind Verda Health
The podcast delves into the story behind Verda Health, an innovative digital health company focused on helping individuals safely and sustainably reverse type 2 diabetes. The CEO, Sami Inkonen, shares how his personal experience of becoming prediabetic despite being a world champion endurance athlete led him to question the traditional understanding of diabetes. He highlights the frustration and curiosity that drove him to research alternative approaches and ultimately collaborate with scientists who had been studying the impact of nutrition on diabetes reversal for many years. This journey eventually led to the founding of Verda Health. Inkonen explains that his background in technology and software development played a crucial role in designing the platform and services, but emphasizes that patient outcomes and experience take precedence over showcasing the technology itself. The focus is on using technology and AI to empower care team members and deliver personalized support to patients throughout their treatment.
Engagement, Outcomes, and Integration in Diabetes Care
The podcast explores the importance of engagement and outcomes in diabetes care. It emphasizes that the key driver of engagement is not flashy technology or marketing gimmicks, but rather the tangible outcomes that patients experience. The discussion highlights how patients who successfully reverse their diabetes and achieve improved health outcomes become strong advocates for the treatment. The continuous remote care model provided by Verda Health ensures that patients receive support round the clock, helping them adhere to the nutrition-based treatment protocols. The integration of care with primary care physicians is also discussed as a vital aspect of the treatment process. The podcast highlights the positive experiences and reactions of patients who have undergone the treatment, including their gratitude towards Verda Health for enabling them to reverse a disease they previously believed to be irreversible.
The Potential of Diabetes Reversal and Transforming Healthcare
The podcast episode concludes with a broader perspective on the potential impact of diabetes reversal and nutrition-based treatments on the healthcare landscape. It points out that a significant portion of healthcare spending is dedicated to managing lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes. The concept of reversing these diseases through nutrition and lifestyle changes is presented as a transformative approach that could contribute to significant economic and societal benefits. The focus shifts from treating symptoms and complications to addressing root causes and achieving long-term health improvements. The podcast highlights the need for a shift towards value-based care and payment models that emphasize paying for results rather than merely paying for healthcare services. The discussion reflects on the success of Verda Health in delivering outcomes and the ongoing scaling of their treatment to reach more individuals and further disrupt the management of chronic conditions.
In this episode, we discuss the future of chronic care management and the ability to leverage technology to aid in reversing disease, particularly type 2 diabetes (T2D). To discuss the topic, Charles Rhyee is joined by Sami Inkinen, Co-Founder and CEO of Virta Health, an innovative digital health company that helps members safely and sustainably reverses T2D by addressing root causes of the disease. We discuss the diabetes crisis in America and how the current ways we treat T2D isn’t working, evidenced by the ever-increasing number of Americans diagnosed with diabetes and the associated costs to treat them. We explore how the conversation around T2D has started to shift away from slowing disease progression to trying to reverse the disease. And finally, the implications reversing T2D could have on how we look at chronic condition management going forward.
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