A Scoping Review of Artificial Intelligence-Based Health Education Interventions for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses a critical global health burden, requiring effective health education to enhance patient self-management. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers personalized and scalable solutions; however, comprehensive syntheses of its applications in T2DM health education are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

Guided by the Arksey and O'Malley scoping review framework, this study maps AI-based health education interventions for T2DM by evaluating technologies, effectiveness, and challenges.

METHODS

Seven academic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, EBSCO, the Cochrane Library, the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Database, and Wiley Online Library) were searched for studies published from 2008 to March 2025, identifying 14 eligible interventional studies involving 32,478 adult T2DM patients receiving AI-based health education.

RESULTS

(1) Technological Diversity: Interventions included mobile apps (eg, FoodLens, TRIO system), chatbots, intelligent platforms, and machine learning algorithms, focusing on diet, glucose monitoring, and lifestyle management. (2) Effectiveness: AI interventions enhanced glycemic control, yielding reductions in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of up to 2.59%, improved self‑management adherence (60-85%), and produced positive psychological outcomes (eg, increased self‑efficacy); efficacy varied by intervention duration and user engagement. (3) Challenges: Key barriers included technical complexity, low long-term engagement, digital literacy gaps, and data privacy concerns.

CONCLUSION

AI holds substantial potential for T2DM health education via personalized, accessible interventions. Future research should address technological hurdles, prioritize user-centered design, and integrate AI into healthcare systems to ensure sustainability and equity.