Health is tantamount to wealth. However, most of us take care of our well-being less. We are often hooked up with our busy, unhealthy lifestyle. We become too preoccupied with striving to be successful in our field of interest. We work hard to make a living and to save for the future even to the point of neglecting our best asset – our health. This is why some of us suffer with diseases due to unhealthy lifestyle choices. People can develop Type 2 Diabetes, also known as Diabetes Mellitus, because of unhealthy eating habits and a lack of regular physical exercise. It is a chronic disease that brings along with it many other possible complications.
Smoking, obesity, abuse in alcohol intake, family history of diabetes, and age are some of the causative factors of Type 2 Diabetes. Some of the early signs and symptoms of DM are frequent urination, increase thirst and hunger, and extreme fatigue. Once a person is diagnosed with this disease, a diabetic patient is advice to monitor his or her blood glucose levels twice a day and take required medications such as insulin injections.
According to National Diabetes Statistics Report in 2017, there were 30.3 million people with diabetes. It’s 9.4% of the U.S. Population. 23.1 million people were diagnosed while 7.2 million left undiagnosed. Life with diabetes can really be hard. You have to monitor your diet, have the necessary exercise, and avoid stressful activities. However, healthcare professionals are doing their best to help alleviate the sufferings of diabetic patients. With the help of modern technology, it’s easier now to manage diabetes.
Artificial Intelligence or AI is being utilized as a tool for diabetes management. According to experts, AI is tailor-fitted for the day by day treatment regimen of diabetes care. This is a big help to physicians and much more to patients suffering from the disease.
What is AI and its role in diabetes management?
Generally speaking, artificial intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, more likely computer systems. Its capabilities involve finding patterns in big data to learn and either reveal concealed information or deliver solutions to intricate problems. The main purpose of AI is to automate processes. The most accepted definition of AI is the one made by Boden: the ability to make computers do the things that would require intelligence if done by humans.
AI is gaining popularity in the healthcare industry as it expedites medical procedures and interventions. AI is use to overcome the gap between those suffering and cured.
A California-based diabetes management company, Bigfoot Biomedical, is dedicated to making lives healthier, safer, and less complicated by enabling optimized insulin delivery solutions accessible for all. Their mission is to strive to free people with insulin-requiring diabetes to live the lives they choose. They are transforming diabetes care with a fully comprehensive digital drug delivery platform experienced as a service by employing data-driven intelligence across an integrated device ecosystem.
Another advancement is from Glooko, a global diabetes data management company. They envision to create the most meaningful technology for all people affected by diabetes. The company provides HIPAA-compliant and compatible mobile and web apps. The company is yoking the power of Big data and predictive algorithms to empower diabetic care professional with tools to analyze trends and give appropriate recommendations.
To address challenges in managing diabetes, GlucoMe, an Israeli startup invented a digital diabetic clinic. GlucoMe is a comprehensive, connected diabetes care platform that simplifies the way patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers manage diabetes. It is a combination of monitoring hardware, mobile software, and big data cloud computing infrastructure. GlucoMe reinforces self-care behavior and achieves better clinical outcomes.
Lastly, BraineHealth‘s project called Diabetio, a social robot assistant for diabetic care. Diabetio is an artificial intelligence application platform to prevent, diagnose, and manage diabetes. It is part of SALUSO artificial intelligence platform combating epidemic diseases.
Thanks to these few digital companies for taking the initiative to alleviate the burden to our diabetic patients. They are leveraging technological advancement to innovate diabetes care solutions. AI and machine learning are used to generate meaningful insights and action plans. Gone are the days when providing healthcare is focus on purely human interventions.
Technological development in the healthcare industry has a bright future. Startup initiatives from companies like the ones mentioned above can open up a range of opportunities for healthcare professionals and patients.