AI Approach Offers Higher Rate of Diabetes Remission Than Standard Care

Use of an artificial intelligence (AI) tool has shown the highest reported rate of type 2 diabetes remission to date, according to research presented at the 82nd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) earlier this month in New Orleans.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that impacts the way the body utilizes glucose, or sugar. In patients with type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough of the sugar-regulating hormone, insulin, and cells respond poorly to insulin, causing them to take in less sugar. This impairment in glucose regulation results in too much sugar in the bloodstream, which can cause circulatory, nervous, and immune system disorders, according to Mayo Clinic.

Remission for patients with type 2 diabetes was defined in the study as “sustaining normal blood glucose (blood sugar) levels for at least three months without taking diabetes medication.” To evaluate rates of remission, along with changes in the diabetes-related hemoglobin A1C, researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial to measure the effect of Twin Precision Treatment technology (TPT) versus standard care (SC) at 90-day intervals.

The TPT intervention relied on the Whole-Body Digital Twin Platform, a predictive analytics model which utilizes AI and Internet of Things (IoT) functionalities to gather patient data and provide guidance surrounding precision nutrition, physical activity, breathing, and sleep. These can then be used by clinicians and their patients to guide treatment.

The study cohort comprised of 319 type 2 diabetes patients with an average age of 45 years, average diabetes duration of 3.9 years, and an average A1C of 9 percent at the beginning of the trial. A total of 262 patients reached the 180-day point of the study, and of these, 199 were receiving the TPT intervention and 63 were receiving standard care.

At 180 days, 94.9 percent of the TPT group achieved an A1C level of less than 6.5 percent while either taking no diabetes medications or metformin only. Close to 84 percent achieved diabetes remission rates consistent with ADA criteria. The nine insulin-using patients in the TPT group all stopped insulin within 90 days because they had lowered their blood sugar to normal levels using the intervention.

“Our results demonstrate the potential of Whole-Body Digital Twin technology to change the conventional, medication-driven management of type 2 diabetes to achieving remission of type 2 diabetes with a life free of medication,” said Paramesh Shamanna, MD, medical director of Twin Health and lead author of the study, in the press release. “The impact of the program on patient satisfaction, quality of life, and total cost of care is substantial and holds significant promise for large populations suffering from metabolic disease globally.”

Despite these promising results, the study authors do note that other research is needed to validate and support their findings.