This article is Part 1 in a 3-part series. Read Part 2: Why leveraging AI portends promise to aid healthcare.
How AI can help empower patients with chronic diseases
Artificial intelligence can provide personalized, real-time information to patients with difficult-to-manage conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes.
This article is Part 1 in a 3-part series. Read Part 2: Why leveraging AI portends promise to aid healthcare.
Artificial intelligence is becoming a crucial tool for patients managing chronic diseases such as diabetes. By integrating the emerging technology into personal health management, patients can take greater ownership of their conditions, adhere more closely to treatment plans and reduce the burden of disease.
Here are ways that artificial intelligence (AI) is helping patients better understand their medical conditions, easing the complexities of diabetes management, and underscoring the importance of patient engagement in treatment adherence.
Diabetes management challenges
Diabetes, particularly Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), requires ongoing management of blood glucose levels, adherence to medication regimens and significant lifestyle changes.
Patients are often overwhelmed by the complexity of managing the disease, which requires them to monitor blood sugar, adjust diet, exercise and remember to take multiple medications. This challenge is heightened by the need to prevent complications like cardiovascular disease, neuropathy and kidney failure.
A 2021 study highlighted the significant impact of treatment adherence on quality of life. The study found that patients who adhered to their treatment regimens experienced better outcomes and a higher quality of life, compared with those who did not. However, many patients struggle with adherence because of the complexities of managing their condition and a lack of understanding of the long-term consequences of non-adherence.
Moreover, poor compliance with treatment can significantly increase healthcare costs. It’s estimated that a 10 percent increase in treatment adherence for diabetic patients could reduce annual healthcare costs by 8.6 percent to 28.9 percent, thus highlighting the economic burden that non-adherence places on the healthcare system.
AI as a tool for patient empowerment
AI can provide patients with personalized, real-time information about their condition. For those with diabetes, AI-powered applications can provide insights into blood sugar trends, suggest dietary adjustments and remind patients to take their medications. These tools help patients better understand their disease and the importance of strict management to prevent complications.
AI-driven apps can track when patients have taken their medications, remind them of upcoming doses and provide alerts for necessary lifestyle changes. This support is invaluable in diabetes management, where the timing of medication and consistency in lifestyle choices are critical to maintaining stable blood glucose levels.
AI also helps bridge the knowledge gap that many patients have regarding their condition. Patients may not fully understand why meticulous management of their disease is crucial or how comorbidities can exacerbate their condition and lead to severe health outcomes. AI-powered educational tools can provide tailored information to patients, helping them understand the importance of managing their diabetes and how other health issues might be impacting their condition.
How AI can reduce patients’ burden
The burden of managing diabetes is not just physical but also mental. Patients often experience cognitive overload because of the many tasks they must remember and perform daily. This overload can lead to burnout, reduced treatment adherence and ultimately poorer health outcomes. AI can alleviate this burden by automating routine tasks like tracking blood sugar levels, calculating insulin doses and generating reports for healthcare providers.
In addition to automating tasks, AI can analyze large datasets to identify patterns and trends that might not be immediately apparent to patients or even their healthcare providers. For example, AI can help identify how specific foods affect a patient's blood sugar levels or how stress impacts their condition. By providing this level of insight, AI enables patients to make more informed decisions about their health and reduces the likelihood of complications.
AI can also simplify medication adherence by creating personalized medication schedules, sending reminders and even ordering refills automatically. This reduces the cognitive load on patients and helps ensure they stay on track with their treatment.
Encouraging patient ownership and responsibility
Despite the powerful tools that AI provides, managing a chronic condition like diabetes ultimately rests with the patient. AI can offer guidance, reminders and insights, but patients must take ownership of their health and follow through with their treatment plan.
This shift in mindset — from seeing diabetes management as burdensome tasks to viewing it as an opportunity to take control of one’s health — is crucial.
AI can facilitate this shift by making the management process more transparent and understandable. When patients see the direct impact of their actions — such as how adhering to medication improves blood sugar levels — they are more likely to stay engaged and motivated. AI tools that provide real-time feedback and education can help patients internalize the importance of their role in managing their disease.
The integration of AI into chronic disease management represents a significant advancement in patient care. By providing patients with the tools they need to better understand and manage their condition, AI reduces the burden of disease and empowers patients to take ownership of their health.
The findings from the recent array of studies underscore the importance of adherence to treatment and the positive impact it has on patient outcomes. Additionally, the potential economic benefits of improved adherence highlight the potential value of investing in AI tools that support patients in managing their chronic conditions.
Randall Brandt, PA-C, has nearly 30 years of experience as a physician assistant at Mile Bluff Medical Center in Mauston, Wis., and played a pivotal role in his organization's MEDITECH Expanse implementation.
More for you
Loading data for hdm_tax_topic #better-outcomes...