AI-based diabetes care: risk prediction models and implementation concerns

The utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) in diabetes care has focused on early intervention and treatment management. Notably, usage has expanded to predict an individual’s risk for developing type 2 diabetes. A scoping review of 40 studies by Mohsen et al. shows that while most studies used unimodal AI models, multimodal approaches were superior because they integrate multiple types of data. However, creating multimodal models and determining model performance are challenging tasks given the multi-factored nature of diabetes. For both unimodal and multimodal models, there are also concerns of bias with the lack of external validations and representation of race, age, and gender in training data. The barriers in data quality and evaluation standardization are ripe areas for developing new technologies, especially for entrepreneurs and innovators. Collaboration amongst providers, entrepreneurs, and researchers must be prioritized to ensure that AI in diabetes care is providing quality and equitable patient care.