HealthMed, Podimetrics partner to help high-risk patients with diabetes

Podimetrics, a company that helps patients with diabetes prevent serious complications, is teaming up with HealthMed, an employee health and wellness platform.

HealthMed aims to integrate Podimetrics’ SmartMat technology into its portfolio of benefits intended for large employers, hospitals and municipalities. The company also provides employee wellness and mental health programs.

Podimetrics’ SmartMat measures the foot temperature of high-risk patients and scans for early signs of inflammation that could lead to wounds, amputations and diabetic foot ulcers. 

“Our partnership with HealthMed is a strong collaboration, and we are excited to work together to support individuals with complex diabetes who are at the greatest risk for serious complications,” Dr. Jon Bloom, CEO of Podimetrics, said in a statement.

“We share a common mission to focus on prevention and improve health outcomes. This collaboration is aimed at achieving that goal together.”

Tracy Webster, founder of HealthMed, said the partnership with Podimetrics and its innovative solution for managing complicated diabetes will benefit self-insured employers and improve the continuum of care.

“We look forward to the positive impact we can make on health outcomes and the overall cost of care,” Webster said in a statement.

THE LARGER TREND

In March, Podimetrics partnered with benefit management organization Alivi Health, which incorporated SmartMat technology into its portfolio of specialty benefits to bolster its podiatry benefits for health plans and payers.

In 2024, Podimetrics sued Ireland-based Bluedrop Medical for patent infringement. Bluedrop has a device that allows a person with diabetes to scan their feet for potential instances of foot ulcers.  

According to the compliant, Bluedrop allegedly “directly and/or through subsidiaries, employees, intermediaries or trade names” committed acts of infringement by “importing, offering to sell and selling an instrumentality that infringes [Podimetrics’] Patents-in-Suit.” The case was dismissed after Podmetrics withdrew its claim. 

In 2022, Podimetrics scored $45 million in a Series C financing round. The capital was used to expand Podimetrics’ product development and research teams as well as increase the number of services provided by its nurse support teams.

In 2019, Podimetrics raised $13.4 million in Series B funding. Rock Health, Norwich Ventures and Scientific Health Development participated in the round.

Other companies in the diabetes space include Dexcom, which in 2024 made a $75 million strategic investment in health-tracking ring maker Oura and established a strategic partnership to enable two-way data flow between Dexcom’s continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and the Oura Ring. Dexcom’s $75 million investment brought Oura’s valuation to more than $5 billion.

Diabetes and insulin management software company Glytec and pharmaceutical firm Roche joined forces last year to allow the use of Glytec’s software in connection with Roche’s point-of-care smart-device hospital blood glucose system cobas pulse in the U.S. and global markets. 

According to Roche, cobas pulse’s strip architecture provides lab-like results and  lowers the need to repeat tests. The system can be used on all patient populations, including neonates and intensive care patients.