Key Points
- Roche introduces AI-driven device to predict and prevent nocturnal hypoglycaemia in diabetes patients.
- The continuous glucose monitor (CGM) takes blood sugar readings every five minutes.
- Integrated AI app forecasts glucose trends and hypoglycaemia risk.
- The device aims to enhance sleep quality and safety for diabetes patients.
- AI technology in healthcare continues to expand beyond popular applications like ChatGPT.
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche announced on Tuesday its plans to introduce a groundbreaking device that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to predict and prevent low blood sugar events during the night, helping diabetes sufferers sleep more peacefully.
The Diabetes Challenge
Diabetes, a chronic metabolic disease characterised by elevated blood sugar levels, often requires insulin injections for management.
Patients can also experience episodes of low blood sugar levels, known as hypoglycaemia, particularly at night, which can disrupt sleep and sometimes necessitate medical intervention.
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The Innovative Solution
Roche’s latest innovation is a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) equipped with a wearable sensor that takes blood sugar readings every five minutes. This device is integrated with an AI-powered app.
How It Works
“The integrated AI-enabled predictive algorithms indicate hypoglycaemia risk within the next 30 minutes, continuously forecast glucose level trends for the next two hours, and estimate the risk of nocturnal hypoglycaemia,” Roche stated.
Benefits of the Technology
The technology facilitates proactive intervention before glucose levels become critical, aiming to reduce concerns about nighttime hypoglycaemia and lower its risk.
Roche emphasised that the predictive AI algorithms surpass high-performance standards for accuracy and that the system complies with European health and safety regulations.
Broader Impact of AI in Healthcare
While generative AI applications like ChatGPT have captured public interest, AI is being increasingly utilised in various fields, including language translation, image recognition, and medical support.
Rising Diabetes Prevalence
According to the World Health Organisation, over 422 million people worldwide were living with diabetes in 2014. The rising prevalence of obesity has contributed to the increase in type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t produce enough insulin.