My Diabetes Tutor received a key endorsement from Kevin O’Leary on the StartEngine platform, which facilitates equity crowdfunding. Images contributed

A Hanford-based diabetes education company has caught the attention of “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary, who highlighted My Diabetes Tutor as a top investment opportunity worth backing.

O’Leary — known sarcastically as “Mr. Wonderful” for his aggressive investment terms — invited company founder Dr. Prem Sahasranam to pitch the virtual diabetes education platform on Dec. 12, endorsing the company’s equity crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine. The company aims to raise between $1.3 million and $2 million, with $300,000 raised in the first three days.

O’Leary is a strategic advisor and spokesperson for StartEngine, an alternative investment platform for private companies.

“He found that investors can make lots of money and at the same time help millions of people,” Sahasranam said. “He selected my company as one of the top companies and he invited me for the pitch — he’s endorsing me to raise money on StartEngine.”

My Diabetes Tutor is valued at $18.06 million, with Series A preferred shares priced at 93 cents each. The minimum investment is $499.41.

Sahasranam, a board-certified endocrinologist, founded My Diabetes Tutor in 2019 after two diabetes educators at his Hanford practice retired.

“I couldn’t recruit anyone to my underserved town,” he said. “So, I decided to build My Diabetes Tutor, to bring educators from other parts of the country here.”

The company delivers virtual diabetes education, medical nutrition therapy and device training through certified diabetes educators who are registered nurses or dieticians with additional certification. About 90% of visits are virtual.

My Diabetes Tutor has grown rapidly since 2023, tripling in size that year and doubling in 2024. The company now serves 8,600 patients, completing approximately 35,000 visits annually.

Sahasranam said the average A1C reduction among patients is 1.6 points — more than double the 0.7-point reduction recommended by the American Diabetes Association and American Medical Association.

“A one-point reduction rate in A1C means a lot to the patient,” he said. “It means a 37% reduction in complications related to diabetes including eye disease, kidney disease and a 21% reduction in mortality related to diabetes.”

Despite diabetes education being widely recommended, utilization remains low — only 6% to 7% of individuals receive it, Sahasranam said.

The company has published its data nationally, presenting outcomes at conferences hosted by the American Diabetes Association and the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists.

My Diabetes Tutor focuses on Medicaid, Medicare and veterans, with emphasis on underserved regions. There is no cost to patients; the company bills insurance companies directly.

“The challenge is market awareness,” Sahasranam said. “People should know that this program is available.”

The company plans to more than double in size in 2026, with educators working from around the country and a heavy footprint in the South and West Coast.