Two NHS trusts in London are trialling artificial intelligence (AI) technology to identify people at risk of type 2 diabetes early and prevent the onset of the disease. The Imperial College and Chelsea and Westminster hospital trusts are using an AI system called Aire-DM, which analyses patients’ heart traces for signs of early warnings that can be difficult for doctors to detect. Clinical trials are expected in 2025 to determine the efficacy of the system. A study indicated that the system can detect risk around 70% of the time. Providing AI with further details, such as the patient’s age, sex, and other risk factors, enables it to predict disease with greater accuracy, according to Dr. Fu Siong Ng – the lead researcher.
He further added that the ECG changes that the system detects are secondary and subtle, making it challenging for skilled doctors to interpret. In the trial, up to 1,000 patients with ECG scans will be read by the AI system to see whether it identifies and predicts the disease. While the technology cannot be offered routinely yet, experts plan to roll it out broadly on the National Health Service (NHS) once approved. Dr Ng projects it could take up to five years or more to achieve this.
The British Heart Foundation, which is funding the research, believes that detecting people at risk of diabetes could ultimately save lives. Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly can help protect against complications. Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, stated that the technology “is a gamechanger” in predicting the possibility of diabetes years before the condition begins.
Dr Faye Riley from Diabetes UK said: “Type 2 diabetes often goes undiagnosed, sometimes for many years. With 1.2 million people in England alone unaware they’re living with the condition and millions more at high risk of developing it, identifying those at risk early on is crucial.” The AI-powered screening method offers a promising new way to identify those likely to develop type 2 diabetes, allowing them to receive proper support to prevent complications such as heart failure and sight loss. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood becomes too high because the body cannot make enough of, or can not correctly use, insulin—a hormone that controls blood sugar.
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