Weitang: Bridging Online and Offline, In-Hospital and Out-of-Hospital Diabetes Management for Over 2 Million Users

WeTang is a mobile, end-to-end management platform for diabetes care that serves patients with diabetes and facilitates communication between physicians and patients. Currently, the company offers two core applications: the “WeTang” app for patients and the “WeTang Doctor” app for healthcare professionals. WeTang aims to provide comprehensive diabetes management services for both physicians and patients, helping more individuals approach diabetes with a positive mindset and return to a relaxed, fulfilling life.



Optimal Matching of Doctor-Patient Resources

WeiTang’s founding team was established in 2013 under the original name Boyibang, and it was renamed WeiTang in 2014. In recent years, the number of diabetes patients in China has grown rapidly, with the onset of the disease increasingly affecting younger populations. This swiftly expanding patient population consumes enormous social resources. According to incomplete statistics, China spends RMB 170 billion annually on diabetes prevention and treatment, yet the results have been far from satisfactory. Among China’s 114 million diabetes patients, approximately 75% fail to achieve target blood glucose levels, and 62% experience hypoglycemic episodes during treatment. Meanwhile, the mismatch between medical supply and patient demand makes it difficult for patients to receive timely and effective diagnosis and care. These circumstances have made diabetes an urgent public health challenge in China that requires immediate solutions.

Wang Yi, CMO of WeTang, shared a set of data: out of the 8,766 hours in a 365-day year, the average time each diabetes patient spends annually on actual hospital consultations, follow-up visits, and communication with doctors is less than one hour. On one hand, there is insufficient communication between patients and doctors; on the other hand, large volumes of data generated by smart devices accumulate online without adequate analysis or utilization, turning excessive data into “data trash.” The WeTang “Timely Rain” project aims to address the mismatch between medical resources and patient needs, fully leverage available data, and ensure that patients receive timely and effective diagnosis and treatment services.

Micro-Sugar Diabetes Patient Distribution Map

WeiTang’s app for individuals with diabetes offers a comprehensive suite of health management services, including blood glucose monitoring, data management, condition analysis, health recommendations, and health-focused social networking. The user-facing platform is designed not only for diagnosed diabetic patients but also for individuals at risk of developing diabetes and their family members. Users can link two accounts together; for instance, when a diabetic patient in the household tests their blood glucose, the results are transmitted in real time to the linked family member’s mobile device. If significant fluctuations in the patient’s blood glucose levels occur, an alert is immediately sent to the family member’s phone, enabling children to monitor their elderly parents’ condition in real time.

Meanwhile, WeTang also offers a physician-facing app, enabling doctors to provide paid text-and-image consultations to patients and organize patient information from both online interactions and offline hospital visits. This streamlines clinical services for physicians, thereby improving diagnostic and treatment efficiency.

 

WeiTang and Sinocare Jointly Launch the "Timely Rain" Package

“Timely Rain” Package Provides Comprehensive Management Services for Patients

Currently, Weitang and Sinocare have jointly launched a service package named “Timely Rain.” The Sinocare blood glucose meter can be equipped with a built-in data SIM card. After users measure their blood glucose levels using the device, the measurement data is uploaded in real time to the Weitang app. Within the app, users can access professional physicians who provide diagnosis and treatment recommendations based on the data, as well as clinical dietitians from top-tier (Grade 3A) hospitals who offer dietary guidance. For ten days following the data upload, professional physicians or dietitians track the user’s blood glucose levels on a daily basis. The “Timely Rain” package addresses the predicament faced by patients after discharge from hospitals, where they often lack professional guidance for blood glucose monitoring and condition analysis.

When discussing the distinctions between WeTang and other diabetes management apps, Wang Yi stated, “WeTang is a platform that emphasizes the ‘three integrations.’” First, WeTang focuses on the integration of software and hardware, as exemplified by its “Timely Rain” package. Second, WeTang stresses the integration of online and offline services. Currently, WeTang has invited the founder of the Hong Kong 8765 Center to join its team to jointly establish offline experience centers. Finally, WeTang prioritizes the integration of in-hospital and out-of-hospital care. WeTang has partnered with Yidu Cloud to consolidate in-hospital and out-of-hospital data. Once the in-hospital and out-of-hospital management systems are fully integrated, WeTang will organize and upload patients’ in-hospital data along with their out-of-hospital records to the WeTang cloud, thereby facilitating disease management for patients.

“Diabetes is not a terrifying disease; in a sense, it is merely a signal, a reminder of potentially unhealthy conditions in one’s past life. What patients need to do is to make timely adjustments to their lifestyle and return to the path of healthy living. Diabetes is nothing to fear,” said Wang Yi.



Following collaborations with Grade A tertiary hospitals, the next key partners are insurance companies, offline experience centers, and elderly care institutions.

Currently, Weitang has partnered with several Grade 3A hospitals, including Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital, Ruijin Hospital, and Henan Provincial People’s Hospital. The physicians featured on the Weitang app are chief physicians from these Grade 3A hospitals. In addition to providing a consultation platform for patients and doctors, Weitang also offers hardware purchasing services through its Weitang Mall.

MicroSugar boasts a robust management team. CEO Feng Yanfei holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Peking University and an MBA from the University of Chicago, and previously served as Global Marketing Manager at Abbott Laboratories. COO Tang Yuanxin earned a Master’s degree in Geographic Information Systems from Peking University and was responsible for digital marketing operations at Procter & Gamble. CMO Wang Yi graduated from the Antai College of Economics and Management at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and brings nearly a decade of marketing experience in the internet industry.

Currently, WeTang has secured tens of millions of US dollars in Series B financing, with Yidu Cloud as the investor. As a next step, WeTang will collaborate with insurance companies to provide insurance services for patients. Meanwhile, the company plans to establish its first offline experience center in Shanghai. In addition, WeTang is considering gradually initiating partnerships with elderly care institutions. Once diabetes management achieves scale, WeTang may further expand its research into other chronic diseases in the future. Regarding business areas such as e-commerce, financial management for chronic disease patients, and pharmaceutical services, WeTang will roll them out gradually in alignment with its business progress and the degree of policy openness.