Tracking Diabetes Trends With Google Searches and Social Media
Google searches can be used to track the prevalence and spread of type 2 diabetes, according to researchers in the Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick.
The researchers found keywords entered on search engines or social media sites, words concerning diabetes symptoms and risk factors, generate accurate information on the incidence of diabetes in specific locales.
The discovery was made by determining the risk factors for diabetes, including age, weight, gender, family history, and lifestyle habits, and then analyzing the rates of searched keywords associated with those risk factors. Examples of diabetes risk-related searches are “how to lose weight,” and “how to quit smoking.”
Analyzing the self-diagnosing searches people do online could provide real-time health trend monitoring, especially for chronic and non-communicable diseases.
“Unlike quickly spreading diseases (e.g., flues), such slowly developing conditions are largely dependent on personal and community lifestyles, the factors, which are currently unaccounted for in the screening models,” said researcher Nataliya Tkachenko. “Human online behaviors could help to bridge the gap between real-world human health landscape and synthetic, predominantly bio-centric monitoring tools.”
Search engine statistics offer a growing health-issue data pool because people increasingly use the Internet to self-diagnose illness, and research treatments. This tendency can by harnessed by healthcare providers and policy makers to design targeted screening programs.
Currently, search engine and social media data are untapped by medical professionals, but using this information could revolutionize the tracking of illnesses such as type 2 diabetes. It would potentially enable the identification of emerging health trends for early intervention.
The Warwick University research was published in Nature’s Scientific Reports.
Source: University of Warwick
Photo credit: C_osett
More Articles
With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.
Farro...
Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....
With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...
If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...
In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.
When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...
More Articles
If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....
For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.
A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...
According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...
Eleven Clinical Studies
After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...
Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...
Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...
Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...
Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...
Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....
When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...
Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.
The...
Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...
Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...
Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...
One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...