What is it about?
This letter examines how ChatGPT (GPT-4 Turbo and GPT-3.5, in Japanese and English) answers practical questions about insulin injection and self-monitoring for older adults with diabetes. The authors compare response content (steps, safety details, storage, etc.), length, and relevance, and discuss how wording (e.g., saying “older patient”) changes what the AI emphasizes. They also reflect on consistency, accuracy, and the need for frameworks to use AI safely in diabetes education.
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Why is it important?
Older adults face unique hurdles (vision, memory, dexterity), so guidance must be clear, stepwise, and safety-focused. AI can expand access to timely, understandable information outside clinic hours—but variability across models and prompts matters. Observed differences: GPT-4 tended to be concise (sometimes missing detail); GPT-3.5 was longer but could be redundant. Mentions of vial formulations persisted despite prefilled pens being common. Clinical takeaway: Without standards, AI guidance may omit critical safety steps for older users (site cleaning, cap handling, dose confirmation).
Perspectives
Set guardrails: Establish vetted knowledge sources, clinical review, and clear operating guidelines before deploying AI for patient education. Design for “older adult” needs: Ensure prompts and outputs reliably surface safety steps, reminders, and practical tips (storage, timing, device handling). Consistency > novelty: Prioritize predictable, reproducible answers (version control, testing) over model complexity alone. Human connection remains essential: AI should complement—not replace—direct communication with nurses, pharmacists, and physicians. Next steps: Define key geriatrics terms (e.g., “older person,” “frailty”) for AI systems; evaluate real-world usability in Japanese/English; protect privacy and minimize bias.
Prof Takuya Omura
National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Enhancing Diabetes Management for Older Patients: The Potential Role of ChatGPT, Geriatrics and Gerontology International, July 2024, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/ggi.14933.
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