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International research project: AI chatbots support people with diabetes

17.08.2026, Research:

How can people with diabetes be better supported in their daily lives – particularly in regions with limited access to healthcare services? Together with partners in South Africa, a research team led by Dr Felix Holl is developing an AI-based chatbot as part of the international ‘rAIsecare’ project, designed to support people with diabetes in their daily lives and complement healthcare provision.

The acronym stands for the project “Responsive AI-Driven Self-care Chatbot Companion for chronic conditions in LMICs and beyond”, which is led by Dr Felix Holl (HNU) and Prof. Dr Jennifer Chipps (University of the Western Cape). The HNU research team also includes Prof. Dr Walter Swoboda and Henrik Hülsmann.

The aim of the project is to develop and implement a digital solution to support diabetes self-management in South Africa. Against the backdrop of rising diabetes prevalence worldwide and the increasing strain on healthcare systems, low-threshold and scalable digital solutions are intended to help provide effective support to patients in their everyday lives and improve long-term care. ‘rAIsecare’ adopts a user-centred, AI-supported approach that complements existing care systems and facilitates access to continuous health support.

The project is part of the “South African-German Collaborative Research Programme on Artificial Intelligence for Societal Transformation” and is funded with 262,000 euros by South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) and the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.

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