Launch of Gro Health App in Ireland in March 2020
Diabetes Digital Media, innovators of the multi-award winning and NHS approved Low Carb Program, an evidence-based structured education program for people type 2 diabetes, prediabetes and obesity, are pleased to announce the launch of Gro Health (Gro) a new behaviour change app in Ireland.
Over 430k people globally have downloaded the Low Carb Program since its launch in 2015. Patients from Ireland with a self-reported diagnosis of type 2 diabetes who completed the Program have shown on average to lose 6.7kg and follow-up HbA1c improvement of 18mmol/mol at one year. Additionally, in the last 12 months, nearly 17,500 new users from Ireland engaged with Diabetes.co.uk (DDM’s community website and forum for people living with diabetes) indicating the appetite for digital health technology in Ireland.
Gro Health is a digital application which has been developed based on the successful NHS implementation of the Low Carb Program in the UK. Gro Health has been fully localised and developed to support the Irish community.
Gro is a completely automated, digital health intervention where users are given access to award-winning structured education focused on all elements of modifiable risk including sleep, mental and physical wellbeing, activity and nutrition. The education is grounded in behaviour change psychology supporting users to make gradual changes to their habits. In the nutrition area, users are invited to choose the nutritional approach that works for them and have the choice between a low carb, Mediterranean or fasting regime.
Users of the app are supported by a team of dedicated behaviour change coaches supporting the setting of goals and the gradual sustainable behaviour changes required for long term health improvements including weight loss, HbA1c reduction and improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Available on mobile devices (iOS and Android), Gro educates users on how to improve their dietary intake supported with recipes and meal plans. The app encourages tracking health data and can be connected to fitness trackers and Bluetooth-enabled devices. Lifestyle articles are added daily and there is peer-support within a network of hundreds of thousands of people.
Gro has been localised for the Irish population, taking into account local food preferences, cultural norms and expectations. Meal plans and recipes have been curated by the Gro team of nutritionists and feature Irish favourites such as Bacon & Cabbage with Parsley Sauce, Shepherd’s Pie, Cauliflower Mash with Cheese and tasty desserts such as Roasted Apples with Butter, Cinnamon & Crème Fraiche.
Totally customisable and personalised to demographics, disease profile and dietary preferences, Gro tracks blood glucose levels, weight, sleep, and has a food diary, empowering patients to learn from their data to control their metabolic health through a choice of dietary approaches.
Professor Carel le Roux, a world leading expert in obesity and metabolic medicine and professor at University College Dublin welcomes the launch of Gro and says "Gro offers an exciting opportunity for people in Ireland living with obesity, type 2 diabetes and other complications of obesity to have access to a peerless digital healthcare intervention to work alongside the traditional healthcare approach".
Charlotte Summers, COO of DDM says ‘We are thrilled to be bringing the Gro Health platform to Ireland, we have seen the significant impact the program has had in England and our outcomes demonstrate that around 26% of patients with type 2 diabetes have been able to place their condition into remission as a result of using our digital health solution. It is our hope that we can empower thousands of people in Ireland take control of their health and where possible achieve remission”
Dr. Peter Foley says, “As a GP, I am proud to be working on a digital solution which caters for patients with type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes. Gro offers users the opportunity to make sustainable patient-centred behaviour optimisation, whatever their goals may be. With advanced in-built A.I., each users experience is unique, bespoke and tailor-made to their own journey. Gro offers a complete lifestyle optimisation platform, with sections on nutrition, exercise, sleep and wellbeing. Our nutrition platform allows for individual preferences, including vegetarian and vegan. Users can also chose from a range of nutritional approaches, including Mediterranean, Low Carb and time restricted eating. There really is something for everyone in Gro, which works alongside healthcare systems to improve health outcomes.
I feel that Gro can give hope to so many people living with T2Dm and pre-diabetes in Ireland. Through Gro, people can learn, share and explore ways to optimise their health and wellbeing & manage their diabetes more effectively in a way which aligns with their on health beliefs and health needs”.