How artificial intelligence can help diabetics

A breakthrough in artificial intelligence (AI) occurred in 2012 when computer scientists learned how to train computer neural networks with a technique called backpropagation. Backpropagation was actually discovered in 1986. It took until 2012 for computational power to become sufficient to successfully utilize the method. This is an excellent example of the value of theoretical science. Theoretical science has helped precipitate the development of new technologies throughout scientific history by generating the ideas, rationale and calculations needed for technological development.

AI can perform some activities (including medical applications) better than humans if it has enough data. The more data AI has to train on a given medical procedure, the better it becomes. This is why big data is so important. Suggestic is an AI app that can help gather big data for diabetics. Suggestic uses AI to help people make healthier choices at restaurants and when cooking at home. It shows participants how close their meal selections are to their selected nutrition program. Suggestic is continually adding menu data from restaurants across the country. Restaurant data on this scale is big data that can help scientists and doctors quantify the impact of specific food types on the development of type 2 diabetes.

AI can potentially generate the big data needed to help diabetics in the following ways:
  • Understanding patient eating habits and dietary content much more precisely. Diabetics often do not know what they are eating or how much they are eating.
  • Addressing the root cause of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by helping people make healthy eating choices.
  • Providing diet prescriptions specific to the patient’s genetics, food sensitivities, current medical condition, environment and culture.
  • Early diagnosis based on physical evidence: As technology becomes better at identifying the early physical indicators of type 2 diabetes, this physical evidence can be shown to diabetics. It would be very helpful for type 2 diabetics to see physical evidence of type 2 diabetes since the asymptomatic nature of T2D tends to lull diabetics into inaction in the early stages of the disease. This is exactly when chances of curing T2D are the greatest. 

In most cases (60-90%), T2D can be cured in the first 4 years as long as the patient continues eating a reversal diet ( https://vimeo.com/262816356 ).