Diabetes, a chronic metabolic condition, is a global health care burden. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 463 million people between ages 20 and 79 years have diabetes, and 374 million have impaired glucose tolerance. By the year 2045, 693 million people are likely to have diabetes. While 8.8% of the world population was reported to have diabetes in 2017, the numbers are projected to rise to 10% by 2045.
Diabetes is associated with various complications and a significant morbidity and mortality. It is important to intervene not only to treat but also to prevent and make a timely detection of diabetes. Management of diabetes is challenging because 1 of 2 adults with diabetes are undiagnosed, yet 10% of global health expenditure (US$760 billion) are spent on diabetes.
Artificial intelligence (AI) finds widespread use in four key areas in diabetes care, including automated retinal screening, clinical decision support, predictive population risk stratification, and patient self-management tools. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the scope and utility of AI in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetes.
Artificial Intelligence
AI has been described as “a branch of computer science that aims to create systems or methods that analyze information and allow the handling of complexity in a wide range of applications.” The application of AI to diabetes is feasible and desirable for efficient data handling and the development of tools and devices for its management. To provide safer technology through AI, it is recommended to have safe designs, safety reserves, and procedural safeguards, with all uncertainties identified for all potential technical systems.
Technical advances have introduced wearables, smartphones, and other gadgets that can aid in the continuous monitoring and tracking of patients symptoms and disease status. Physicians and health care professionals should allow patients to choose AI-assisted care for the effective management of diabetes.
AI can influence and improve 3 main domains of diabetes care: patients with diabetes, health care professionals, and health care systems (Figure 1). AI has added newer dimensions of self-care for patients with diabetes, introduced rapid and reliable decision making and flexible follow-ups for health care providers, and optimized resource utilization in health care systems.
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-Samer Ellahham, MD
