FeedRite Technologies

FeedRite Technologies aims to decrease the prevalence of Type II Diabetes in the obese population. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) classifies anyone with a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 as Overweight and above 30 as Obese. The Center for Disease Control reports that more than 78.6 million U.S. adults are obese, 34.9% of the population. Obesity leads to increased risk of diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and type II diabetes.

Type II Diabetes affects 29.1 million Americans, and this number continues to grow by approximately 1.7 million new cases each year. Additionally, 86 million Americans have prediabetes. Together, obesity and diabetes have significant economic consequences, costing the United States $398.38 billion in direct medical costs and reduced productivity.

The currently available treatment options for people suffering from obesity or a combination of obesity and diabetes are limited. One weight-loss surgery option, gastric bypass, results in an average of 60% excess weight loss and can reverse diabetes in some patients. However, this surgery is permanent, expensive, and risky. A very small portion of the obese population qualifies for gastric bypass and can afford the procedure.

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There exists a need for an alternative method for reversing Type II diabetes, especially in obese patients. One approach involves running a feeding tube from the nasal cavity down through the foregut to the small intestine. This procedure, however, is currently as expensive as gastric bypass and involves unnecessary exposure to radiation. Our goal is to create a device that can reverse diabetes, promote weight loss, and mitigates risks such as surgery or exposure to radiation.