[AI Revolution](113) Blood Sugar Care Created by Doctor... "Managing 1 Billion Patients with AI Primary Care Physician"

Doctor-turned-entrepreneur Yang Hyuk-yong, CEO of Ransik
Develops AI Blood Sugar Management Solution 'Glucofit'
Targets 50 Billion KRW in Sales Next Year... Plans to Enter Japan
"Collecting Data to Become a 'Doctor in Your Hand'"

AI Revolution - Yang Hyuk-yong, CEO of Ransik, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at his office in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun un21@

Yang Hyuk-yong, CEO of Ransik, once struggled with repeated yo-yo dieting. Despite trying every method, including low-carb high-fat diets and intermittent fasting, his weight quickly returned to its original state. When his weight exceeded 100kg and he reached a prediabetic stage, he realized a more fundamental solution was needed. While researching books and papers, the keyword that caught his eye was 'blood sugar.' When blood sugar rises sharply, glucose is converted into fat and stored. Since blood sugar responses vary from person to person even when eating the same food, it is important to avoid foods that raise blood sugar rather than just high-calorie foods.

In fact, the sweet potatoes that CEO Yang often ate as part of his diet were the main culprits raising his blood sugar. Although both are carbohydrates, switching from sweet potatoes to brown rice accelerated his weight loss. After losing 10kg in just six weeks, Yang developed the AI blood sugar management solution 'Glucofit.'

Launched in November 2022, Glucofit is Yang’s eighth business venture. Interested in entrepreneurship since his medical school days, he tried various businesses. He developed a strong desire to help people manage their health before they get sick rather than just treating illness. This is why Yang opened the Ransik office instead of a hospital after obtaining his medical license.

Glucofit collects data using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) the size of a 500-won coin. When the CGM is attached to the arm, the sensor measures glucose concentration in the skin tissue. This data is linked to the Glucofit app, allowing real-time blood sugar monitoring without blood sampling and providing tailored solutions. After wearing the CGM for four weeks, the AI trained on the data predicts blood sugar levels.

The key differentiator is personalized solutions. While existing blood sugar monitors only show results after blood sugar rises, Glucofit advises on how to prevent blood sugar spikes. For example, if a user eats cereal and chicken breast, the app might coach them to reduce cereal by 20% and increase chicken breast by 10% to maintain normal blood sugar. Based on specific brand data, if a user drinks coffee at Starbucks, the app might recommend eating ciabatta instead of bacon toast. When a blood sugar spike is expected, it may even assign a squat mission.

So far, Glucofit has secured over 10,000 users. The target market includes 6 million diabetic patients and 15 million prediabetic individuals in Korea, as well as those seeking weight loss and health management. Yang said, "Including 1 billion people with metabolic diseases such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia, as well as those interested in diet and healthcare, the market is much larger."

Going forward, the company plans to expand into business-to-business (B2B) markets. Currently, it is partnering with Kangbuk Samsung Hospital to provide blood sugar management services to Samsung group employees. It is also negotiating with major insurance companies to offer services linked to insurance products. The company is broadening its business partners by selling services bundled with fitness center memberships or health supplements.

They also plan to enter overseas markets. If they achieve their sales target of 50 billion KRW by next year, they will prepare for a full-scale entry into Japan. Yang explains that Japan has a lower entry barrier, as insurance covers CGM for type 2 diabetes patients.

The mid-to-long-term goal is to become an 'AI primary care physician.' Starting with blood sugar data, they plan to collect various data such as health checkup and sleep data. Their ambition is to enhance AI with diverse data to provide personalized health management solutions. Yang emphasized, "In 10 years, I want to be a pocket-sized primary care physician managing metabolism across daily life, including diet, exercise, sleep, and stress."