Abstract
Pregnancies impacted by diabetes face the compounded challenge of strict glycemic
control with mounting insulin resistance as the pregnancy progresses. New technological
advances, including artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Medical Things
(IoMT), are revolutionizing health care delivery by providing innovative solutions
for diabetes care during pregnancy. Together, AI and the IoMT are a multibillion-dollar
industry that integrates advanced medical devices and sensors into a connected network
that enables continuous monitoring of glucose levels. AI-driven clinical decision
support systems (CDSSs) can predict glucose trends and provide tailored evidence-based
treatments with real-time adjustments as insulin resistance changes with placental
growth. Additionally, mobile health (mHealth) applications facilitate patient education
and self-management through real-time tracking of diet, physical activity, and glucose
levels. Remote monitoring capabilities are particularly beneficial for pregnant persons
with diabetes as they extend quality care to underserved populations and reduce the
need for frequent in-person visits. This high-resolution monitoring allows physicians
and patients access to an unprecedented wealth of data to make more informed decisions
based on real-time data, reducing complications for both the mother and fetus. These
technologies can potentially improve maternal and fetal outcomes by enabling timely,
individualized interventions based on personalized health data. While AI and IoMT
offer significant promise in enhancing diabetes care for improved maternal and fetal
outcomes, their implementation must address challenges such as data security, cost-effectiveness,
and preserving the essential patient–provider relationship.
Key Points
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The IoMT expands how patients interact with their health care.
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AI has widespread application in the care of pregnancies complicated by diabetes.
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A need for validation and black-box methodologies challenges the application of AI-based
tools.
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As research in AI grows, considerations for data privacy and ethical dilemmas will
be required.
Keywords
artificial intelligence - internet of Medical Things - diabetes - gestational diabetes
- pregnancy - remote patient monitoring
