A newly invented calculator by the researchers from the University of Exeter is designed to help clinicians classify patients who are suffering from Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. The goal is to ensure that the patients get the most accurate treatment to reduce possible complications.
What makes this calculator different from the ones that are already in the market? This model of calculator considers all the other data available concerning the patient's health, including the results of their blood test. It is designed to help clinicians make the most accurate diagnosis to reduce the chances of misdiagnosis that could lead to wrong medication. It cites the case of Theresa May, Former Prime Minister, who was initially diagnosed with a type 2 Diabetes. She was given tablet treatment that didn't seem to work to alleviate her health condition. It was only then that she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and received a different kind of treatment.
It has always been a challenge for clinicians to make a diagnosis of what type of diabetes a patient has. While there are blood tests that look into the antibodies and compare them to the cells in the body that make insulin or compare the genetic risks that a patient has to make him fall under the category of having Type 1 diabetes, the tests do not give an accurate diagnosis on their own. Rather, it is interpreted by a clinician and from there a diagnosis is drawn.
The new calculator will help clinicians shy away from these processes, hopeful that they could provide a more accurate diagnosis on diabetes patients. The calculator is currently available in beta format, combining all the available information from the most current blood test results, to their age, and even their current BMI. This calculator personalizes the approach in medicine allowing clinicians to provide patients with the medication they need, something that is not like any other.
The researchers from the University of Exeter have developed this calculator and they published the results of their study in the journal BMJ Open. The study was funded by the NIHR and it covered the analysis of the data of 1,352 patients with diabetes. They further gathered 582 participants to test the calculator.
"The right diagnosis of patients with diabetes is the most crucial part of their treatment to better health," said Dr. Angus Jones, lead researcher. "There is no universal treatment for diabetes and this calculator only substantiates that. With personalized treatment, people with diabetes can get the help their body needs when they need it."
The calculator aims to improve the healthcare services provided by clinicians. The combination of the different features that it offers only makes it even more promising.
