How can AI help people at risk of diabetes? Researchers are exploring patient data, glucose monitoring and improved primary care training to support earlier detection.
The University of Florida and Google are expanding a program that uses artificial intelligence to improve how diabetes is identified and managed. ()
The partnership will support efforts to train primary care doctors to better identify and treat people who may have diabetes. It will also explore the use of AI-powered glucose monitoring and data analysis to identify people who may be at higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes.
AI Could Help Identify People at Risk of Type 1 Diabetes
One part of the program focuses on finding people who may be at risk of type 1 diabetes before the disease is diagnosed. Dr. Michael Haller, a UF endocrinologist involved in the program, said researchers can use AI to examine large amounts of patient information and identify people who show a higher risk based on factors such as family history and elevated glucose readings.
The goal is to help doctors identify people who may need additional testing or monitoring sooner. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Detecting the disease earlier can give healthcare providers more time to monitor patients and prepare for treatment.
Primary Care Doctors to Receive More Diabetes Training
The partnership will also provide funding to improve diabetes education for primary care doctors.
Primary care physicians are often the first healthcare professionals to see patients with symptoms or risk factors for diabetes. Better training could help doctors recognize the disease earlier and make treatment decisions sooner. The program is intended to support doctors in diagnosing and treating patients who may have diabetes rather than relying only on specialist care.
AI-Powered Glucose Monitoring Also Part of the Program
Another component involves a glucose monitoring device that uses AI to identify potential problems. Continuous glucose monitoring can provide information about changes in blood sugar over time rather than relying only on occasional blood tests. Adding AI analysis could help identify patterns that might otherwise be difficult to detect.
The partnership will examine how this type of technology can be used alongside medical care to help patients and clinicians better understand glucose levels.
Researchers Hope the Diabetes Program Can Expand
The University of Florida program is still focused on research and development, rather than replacing doctors with AI. Researchers will need to determine how accurately the technology identifies people at risk and how useful it is in routine clinical care. Any system used with patients would also need to be evaluated for reliability and safety.
Haller said that if the approach proves successful, the technology could eventually be expanded beyond Florida and used more widely across the United States.
The partnership brings together diabetes research, primary care education and AI-based monitoring with the aim of improving earlier identification and treatment of diabetes. The next step will be determining whether the technology can deliver the same benefits in everyday healthcare settings as it does when researchers analyze large patient datasets.
References:
- UF Diabetes Institute expands care across Florida with support from Google – (https://phhp.ufl.edu/2026/08/13/uf-diabetes-institute-expands-care-across-florida-with-support-from-google)
Source-Medindia