‘Functional food’ product made with Australian plants clinically proven to reduce blood sugar levels, positively impacting people living with diabetes

• NutriKane D, developed by Australian health company MediKane, is a safe, plant-based Food as Medicine dietary management tool for people living with diabetes, made from Australian-grown ingredients
• Clinical trials have shown it reduces blood sugar levels by 2.2 times compared to diet and exercise alone
• Globally, 463 million people have diabetes[1]
• MediKane is offering investment opportunities via an equity crowd-sourced funding campaign on the Birchal platform with a goal of raising $1.5 million.

SYDNEY, 8 June 2021: Innovative Australian natural health company, MediKane has made a global breakthrough in its search for a way to help people with diabetes, with its flagship product NutriKane D, an all-natural, plant-based ‘functional food’ product that is sustainably produced using Australian plant products. NutriKane D has been clinically proven in multiple studies to lower and control blood sugar levels by nourishing the gut with the complex biochemistry of whole foods.

Diabetes is at epidemic levels globally, with 463 million people currently living with the condition, and a further 374 million at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. It is one of the biggest challenges confronting the Australian healthcare system and the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia, increasing at an even faster rate than diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

Rod Lewis, CEO and co-founder of MediKane, says, “Diabetes is the epidemic of the 21st century and is presenting enormous challenges to global healthcare systems. While there are many pharmaceutical medications available that can help to manage the symptoms of diabetes, there are currently no pharmaceutical treatments available that can reverse or cure the condition. We started MediKane with the aim of leveraging the principles of Food as Medicine to develop natural, plant-based products to prevent, manage and reverse chronic conditions. With NutriKane D, we’ve developed a functional food product that has been clinically proven to lower and control blood sugar levels while also reducing systemic inflammation.”

Controlling blood sugar levels is essential for people living with, or at risk of, diabetes. Standard diabetes management techniques involve daily invasive monitoring (with finger prick tests), strict dietary management, and - often - pharmaceutical medications. However, progression of the condition is very common, even with medication. 

Patricia Reed, a Registered Nurse and health and lifestyle consultant at Total Health Options, has seen the impact of poorly managed diabetes, and has also seen first-hand the positive affect that NutriKane D can have on the lives of people living with diabetes.

“Poorly managed diabetes can lead to some really terrible outcomes for many people living with the condition, from blindness to nerve damage that ends in amputations, to an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke or kidney failure,” explains Ms Reed. “Having consistently high blood sugar levels can cause damage to the major organs and significantly impact a person’s quality of life, as well as their actual lifespan. NutriKane D, which has been scientifically proven to lower blood glucose, can be life-changing for people living with diabetes, and personally I’ve seen dramatic improvements in many of my own patients after they begin using the product. Many of my patients have been able to reduce their medications, and some have been able to come off their medications altogether. Apart from improved blood sugar levels, my patients also report that they’re sleeping better, their brain fog has lifted and their concentration levels have improved.”

One of NutriKane D’s ingredients is Australian sugarcane, which has had the sugar removed, leaving the powerful natural biochemistry of the plant intact. Sugarcane has been used in ancient health remedies, particularly in Asia, for thousands of years. 

“While it might seem ironic that an ingredient in a product to lower blood sugar levels is sugarcane, it actually makes sense when you look at the science,” explains MediKane’s Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder, Dr Malcolm Ball. “Sugarcane is one of only a few plants that uses sugar as its energy source, so it contains all of this incredible biochemistry that is needed to properly process sugar. What we’ve done with NutriKane D is use a special process to remove the sugar from the sugarcane, but leave all of that complex biochemistry behind. We’ve then combined it with a range of other science-backed ingredients which contain soluble and insoluble fibres and resistant starch, to create a safe, plant-based product that lowers blood sugar and promotes a healthy gut microbiome.”

Results from clinical trials into NutriKane D showed blood sugar levels were reduced by 2.2 times when patients used the product compared to diet and exercise alone. Based on these results, the Australian Government provided MediKane with an Australian Research Council (ARC) grant of more than $2 million, which funded a research project led by Distinguished Professor Ian Paulsen of the Department of Molecular Sciences at Macquarie University, who investigated how NutriKane D works in the human body.

“What we found is that NutriKane D greatly increased the diversity of microbes in the gut which is a sign of good gut health,” says Prof Paulsen. “We also saw an increase in bacteria that have anti-inflammatory properties.“

NutriKane D works by repairing and balancing the body, improving the gut microbiome and helping the body to work more effectively for itself.

“I worked in the pharmaceutical industry for many years, and I can categorically state that today’s diabetes management practices do not work nearly well enough, and there are currently no cures,” concludes Dr Ball. “With MediKane, we’ve taken the Food as Medicine approach to managing chronic conditions like diabetes – alongside an evidence-based diet and exercise program - because the medical evidence that good health begins with food is overwhelming. We believe the success and clinical evidence of NutriKane D really proves that the Food as Medicine approach is the best way to tackle chronic conditions. We also have a range of other products in our pipeline for different health conditions - all plant-based, safe and free from unwanted side effects.”

MediKane is launching an equity crowd-sourced funding campaign to drive the next stage of the company’s growth, including international expansion plans, which is currently open for expressions of interest on the Birchal platform at https://www.birchal.com/company/medikane.

NutriKane D is available via selected health food outlets, pharmacies and online at https://nutrikane.com.au.

- ENDS –

Media contact: 

Rachel McDougall

rachel@crystalclearcommunications.com.au

Ph: 0401 694 301

About MediKane

MediKane is a Food as Medicine company that develops Australian-made, natural health products with the scientific rigour of pharmaceutical drug development.

All of MediKane’s products are manufactured in Australia, using Australian-grown ingredients, utilising a multi-step process designed to protect the company’s Intellectual Property and maintain confidentiality of the processing details.

https://www.medikane.com.au

Rod Lewis – CEO and Co-Founder

Rod has had an incredibly diverse career, beginning with qualifications in science (diabetes biochemistry) and management, and working across a range of different industries and fields, from product development, production and construction of manufacturing and distribution facilities, before moving into senior commercial roles.

His professional background includes senior leadership roles at Heinz, Cadbury Schweppes, The Fosters Group, BOC Gases and Legrand.

Dr Malcolm Ball – Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder

Over the course of his professional career, Dr Malcolm Ball has designed and obtained regulatory approval for 41 products in the food, medical device, bioanalytical and pharmaceutical areas. He holds a PhD from Macquarie University, where he has also been recognised as a Fellow.

Prior to co-founding MediKane, Dr Ball worked as lead researcher and team leader for a number of technical organisations including the Cooperative Research Centre for Eye Research and Technology, Apollo Life Sciences and Fluorotechnics. He has also consulted on projects for CibaVision, Johnson & Johnson, Macquarie University, Medical Therapeutics Pty Ltd and Novotech Pty Ltd. 

[1] International Diabetes Federation