BeatO, a digital care platform for managing and reversing diabetes, has seen a significant increase in the number of female users over the last five years, with a 20x growth rate. Of its 2 million users, over 6 lakh are female, with 60% residing in tier 2, 3, 4, and beyond. This increase in the adoption of technology for healthcare among females living in Bharat shows that BeatO is breaking barriers by providing accessible and affordable diabetes care through its app and digital technology.
Despite the prevalence of diabetes being only slightly lower among women than men, women face more obstacles when accessing and utilizing digital care platforms. A survey conducted by BeatO on gender differences in accessing and utilizing digital diabetes support platforms in India revealed that while the number of female users has increased recently, only around 27% of BeatO’s users are female. To bridge this gender gap, there is a need to increase the availability and awareness of digital platforms among females with diabetes, and BeatO’s digital comprehensive diabetes care platform aims to address this need.
The majority of females accessing BeatO are in the age range of 46 to 55 years, with a mean age of 48.24 years. Additionally, the majority have type 2 diabetes, with a mean duration of 9.42 years. Interestingly, only 40% of female users are from metros, reflecting the increased adoption of technology for healthcare among females in smaller towns and cities.
Gautam Chopra, the Founder and CEO of BeatO, believes that technology has the potential to improve the quality of life for everyone, especially women in smaller towns and cities, by empowering them to make decisions concerning their health. He expects to see an exponential increase in female users in the near future, with the potential for Indian women to become flag bearers of the much-needed health-tech revolution in India.
In conclusion, there is a pressing need for all stakeholders, including the government, institutions, policy makers, and private players, to leverage the power of technology to reach every Indian household. Addressing the healthcare needs of females should be the very first step, as bringing one woman under the umbrella of cover can impact multiple families together.