Virtual health coach for facilitating dynamic dosage titration
A computer-implemented method improves efficacy of diabetes self-management to obtain a measurement message and/or contextual activity information used to determine a suitable insulin dosage to treat a patient. The method includes simulating a health coach in a natural conversation to obtain a measurement of the patient's blood-glucose level, processing the measured blood-glucose level with a personalized insulin titration algorithm to determine an insulin dosage recommendation, and generating an electronic signal configured to cause a corresponding action to be performed by a computing device.
1. A method comprising:
launching a computer program that autonomously facilitates a conversation in which dialogue is exchanged with an individual to whom insulin is delivered,
wherein the conversation includes—
a first message, from the computer program, that requests the individual specify a value for a blood glucose level, and
a second message, from the individual, that specifies the value for the blood glucose level;
determining a dosage to treat the individual based on the value for the blood glucose level that is specified in the second message;
adjusting the dosage based on information regarding context of the individual; and
effecting delivery of an amount of insulin based on the dosage, as adjusted to account for the context of the individual.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said launching is performed in accordance with a schedule that is set by a healthcare provider of the individual.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said launching is performed in response to a determination that the individual has completed a predetermined activity.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
receiving, via a wireless communication channel, data from a computing device that is located proximate to the individual; and
determining that the individual has completed the predetermined activity based on an analysis of the data.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information regarding the context of the individual is derived from the conversation.
6. A method comprising:
initiating a computer program that facilitates a conversation in which dialogue is exchanged with an individual to whom insulin is delivered,
wherein the conversation includes—
a first message, from the computer program, that requests the individual specify a value of a blood glucose level, and
a second message, from the individual, that specifies the value for the blood glucose level;
determining a dosage for treating the individual based on the value for the blood glucose level specified in the second message; and
effecting delivery of a suitable amount of insulin based on the dosage.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
deriving information regarding a physical activity performed by the individual based on an analysis of the conversation; and
adjusting the dosage based on the information, so as to account for the physical activity performed by the individual.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
deriving information regarding a food or a beverage consumed by the individual based on an analysis of the conversation; and
adjusting the dosage based on the information, so as to account for the food or the beverage consumed by the individual.
9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
deriving information regarding a medication administered by the individual based on an analysis of the conversation; and
adjusting the dosage based on the information, so as to account for the medication administered by the individual.
10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
acquiring, from a source external to the computer program, information regarding an external factor that affects, or is experienced by, the individual; and
adjusting the dosage based on the information, so as to account for the external factor.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the external factor is daylight duration, average temperature, season, geographical altitude, or pollution level.
12. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
acquiring, from a source external to the computer program, information regarding a characteristic of the individual; and
adjusting the dosage based on the information, so as to account for the characteristic.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the characteristic is age, gender, genotype, or phenotype.
14. The method of claim 6 , wherein the dosage is a basal insulin dosage or a bolus insulin dosage.
15. The method of claim 6 , wherein the computer program operates in accordance with a set of rules, at least one of which is customized for the individual to manage diabetes in a personalized manner.
16. A non-transitory medium with instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
initiating a computer program that facilitates a conversation in which dialogue is exchanged with an individual to whom medication is delivered to manage a disease,
wherein the conversation includes—
a first message, from the computer program, that requests the individual specify a value for a physiological characteristic, and
a second message, from the individual, that specifies the value for the physiological characteristic;
deriving information regarding a physical activity that is performed by the individual based on an analysis of the conversation;
determining a dosage to treat the individual based on the value for the physiological characteristic specified in the second message;
adjusting the dosage based on the information, so as to account for the physical activity of the individual; and
effecting delivery of an amount of the medication based on the adjusted dosage.
17. The non-transitory medium of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:
posting, to an interface, the adjusted dosage for review by the individual.
18. The non-transitory medium of claim 16 , wherein said effecting comprises:
generating an electronic signal that is configured to cause an insulin delivery device to administer insulin to the individual in accordance with the adjusted dosage.
19. The non-transitory medium of claim 18 , wherein the insulin delivery device is configured to administer the insulin during the conversation.
20. The non-transitory medium of claim 18 , wherein said effecting further comprises:
transmitting the electronic signal to the insulin delivery device via a network.