Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Buzud are developing an AI-powered insulin calculator to help diabetes patients determine precise dosages, reducing errors and anxiety.
.jpg "AI-driven insulin dosage app") |
| A new AI-powered tool developed by TTSH and Buzud will help diabetes patients calculate insulin dosages with greater precision, potentially reducing hospital admissions. Image: Collected |
Singapore, March 10, 2025:
Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and biomedical technology company Buzud are working together to refine an AI-powered insulin calculator designed to help diabetes patients determine accurate dosages before meals, source: Magzter.
The app-based tool uses an AI-enhanced camera to analyze a photo of a meal, identifying its components and integrating real-time data from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to calculate the required insulin dose. At present, many patients rely on estimates, which can lead to errors and anxiety, particularly for those newly diagnosed or requiring multiple daily injections.
“This has been the way for a long time because there is no simpler way to do it,” said senior nurse clinician Lian Xia from TTSH’s Department of Endocrinology, who is leading the project at the hospital. “By contributing to the development of an intuitive, AI-enhanced tool, we hope to bridge the gap between clinical care and real-time decision-making at mealtimes.”
Since 2024, a team of 20 dietitians, nurses, endocrinologists, and medical social workers from TTSH has been collaborating with Buzud’s developers to refine the app’s food recognition technology. The AI model, trained on a wide range of Asian and Western dishes, currently identifies food with about 90% accuracy but struggles with small ingredients, sauces, and variations caused by lighting and camera angles. The tool will only be launched once it achieves 99.9% accuracy.
Over the next two years, clinical trials will further refine the AI model, with up to 600,000 additional food images added to enhance its database. Buzud’s chief executive, Frankie Fan, noted that improving meal recognition is crucial for ensuring precise insulin calculations.
The insulin calculator will integrate seamlessly with Buzud’s glucose monitor, which continuously tracks blood sugar levels through a sensor attached to the forearm. The monitor transmits real-time readings via Bluetooth to the Buzud app, alerting users to any abnormal glucose levels.
The app, launched in 2022, already has around 520,000 users across Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. While the glucose monitor and a basic version of the food recognition tool are available, the full insulin calculator is expected to be introduced in 2027.
Eddie Tan, a 47-year-old sailing coach with Type 1 diabetes, has been using the Buzud app for a year. Currently, he pricks his fingers more than 10 times daily to monitor glucose levels and calculate insulin doses. He believes the new AI tool will make mealtime management far easier.
“It’s nice to know that with everything consolidated on my phone, I can make real-time adjustments accurately,” he said. “In the long term, this will be extremely helpful in reducing episodes of hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia.”
Ms Lian hopes the digital solution will empower patients to manage their condition with greater confidence, potentially reducing emergency visits and hospital admissions.