VIRTUAL DIABETES CARE

Updates by Dr. Shashank Joshi

Dr. Shashank Joshi provides an overview of innovative approaches such as multifunctional peptides, which are revolutionizing obesity and diabetes management.

Virtual Care and Telemedicine

  • Virtual care, including virtual diabetes clinics, has emerged as a significant aspect of diabetes management, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Virtual clinics are becoming integral to diabetes care.
  • Virtual clinics are not only effective in improving weight and BMI but also in achieving remission in type 2 diabetes.
  • Telemedicine has become central in managing conditions such as obesity, diabetes retinopathy, and pregnancy care, especially in remote areas.
  • This mode of care delivery allows for improved accessibility and continuity of care, particularly in remote areas.

New Medications and Weight Loss

  • While lifestyle interventions remain effective, drugs like GLP-1 agonists (e.g., semaglutide) and dual agents (e.g., tirzepatide) have significantly altered the management era.
  • New medications like twin-cretins and triple-cretins show promise for significant weight loss and improvements in glycemia and liver disease, potentially challenging the role of bariatric surgery.
  • These medications are projected to achieve weight loss ranging from 10% to 40%, significantly impacting diabetes and liver disease management.
  • In the MFLD space, lifestyle interventions have shown promise, but newer agents such as SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agents offer additional benefits by reducing liver fat.
  • These medications challenge the traditional role of bariatric surgery in managing obesity and related conditions.

Role of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1)

  • GLP-1 agents not only control glucose levels but also have additional benefits such as reducing body weight and improving cardiovascular and kidney health.
  • New advancements in drug development, including oral GLP-1 and GIP-1 agents, as well as multifunctional drugs like Cotadutide and Retadutide, which are expected to be available in the near future.

Role of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in Diabetes Care

  • AI technologies, including deep neural networks, enable the analysis of arterial Doppler waveforms to predict adverse outcomes in individuals with diabetes.
  • Additionally, the use of publicly available data and AI algorithms facilitates the screening and prediction of type 1 diabetes, leading to improved risk stratification, resource optimization, and cost-effective care.
  • The FASA study demonstrates the utility of data for screening and predicting type 2 diabetes.
  • AI plays an important role in diabetes management, with personalized treatment plans, ease in predicting outcomes, and improving screening and diagnosis.
  • Precision nutrition, activity monitoring, and sleep management supervised by AI algorithms are emerging as effective strategies for diabetes management.
  • AI has the potential to improve adherence to treatment regimens that ultimately lead to better health outcomes for individuals with diabetes.
  • By providing predictive maps and identifying different endotypes of type 2 diabetes,
  • AI can guide healthcare providers in delivering personalized care and achieving better treatment outcomes.
  • However, there are challenges such as privacy concerns, regulatory issues, and standardization of data that need to be addressed for effective implementation of AI in diabetes care.

Dr. Shashank Joshi concluded that AI has the potential to revolutionize diabetes care by enabling precision medicine, improving adherence, and ultimately leading to happier and healthier lives for individuals with diabetes.