Editorial illustration for Twin Health's AI Digital Twins Target Diabetes, Obesity Management
AI Digital Twins Revolutionize Diabetes Management
Twin Health's AI Digital Twins Target Diabetes, Obesity Management
Twin Health is betting on a new kind of software—AI‑driven digital twins—to help people wrestle with diabetes and obesity. The startup’s platform builds a virtual replica of a user’s metabolism, then runs simulations that suggest diet, exercise and medication tweaks. Because the tool is open‑source, clinicians and researchers can inspect the code and adapt it to local needs, a rarity in the crowded health‑tech market.
Since its launch, the company has enrolled tens of thousands of participants across nearl, gathering data that feed back into the models and refine their predictions. The effort reflects a broader push to move beyond static guidelines toward continuously personalized care. Yet the ambition is personal, too.
Jahangir Mohammed, who co‑founded Twin Health in 2018 after seeing type 2 diabetes run in his family, says the work is more than a technical exercise. He believes the numbers tell a story about real‑world change.
"We are making an impact on people, and we are sustaining the health outcomes," says Jahangir Mohammed, cofounder and CEO of Twin Health.
"We are making an impact on people, and we are sustaining the health outcomes," says Jahangir Mohammed, cofounder and CEO of Twin Health. He says he was inspired to start the company in 2018 because type 2 diabetes runs in his family. The company has enrolled tens of thousands of people across nearly 200 employers.
Twin gets paid only when users achieve certain clinical outcomes, such as lower blood sugar, weight loss, or the reduction of metabolic medications. Users log what they're eating throughout the day by scanning food labels, taking pictures of their meals, or recording meals via voice. The app uses AI to analyze nutritional content and identifies foods as "green," "yellow," or "red"--green being the healthiest options and red being foods to avoid.
Those colors can change as a person's metabolic health improves.
Can a digital replica truly replace medication? Twin Health says its AI twins are already delivering results. Rodney Buckley, a 55‑year‑old former firefighter, dropped 100 pounds in under a year after joining the program, a change he attributes to the twin rather than a GLP‑1 drug.
His story illustrates one of the tens of thousands the company reports as enrolled across the country. Yet the data behind those enrollments remain private, so the broader efficacy is hard to verify. Jahangir Mohammed, co‑founder and CEO, cites personal motivation—type 2 diabetes in his family—as the spark for the 2018 venture, and he emphasizes sustained health outcomes.
The program arrived at a time when demand for Ozempic and similar drugs is high, suggesting a market niche. Still, whether digital twins can consistently produce lasting weight loss and glycemic control beyond early adopters is unclear. The company’s impact, while promising in isolated cases, awaits more transparent results before its role can be fully assessed.
Further Reading
- Twin Health Announces $53M Investment as AI Digital Twin Unlocks Sustainable Diabetes and Obesity Outcomes While Reducing Medications - PR Newswire
- Randomized Clinical Trial Demonstrates AI-Supported Coaching Program Improved Outcomes in Patients With T2D - Cleveland Clinic Consult QD
- Digital twin startup Twin Health secures $53M, nears $1B valuation - MobiHealthNews
Common Questions Answered
How does Twin Health's digital twin technology help manage type 2 diabetes?
Twin Health's digital twin technology creates a personalized virtual replica of an individual's metabolism using AI and multiple data points from continuous glucose monitors, activity sensors, and other health inputs. The platform provides real-time, personalized recommendations for diet, exercise, and potential medication adjustments to help patients improve their metabolic health and potentially reduce or eliminate diabetes medications.
What unique approach does Twin Health take to weight loss and diabetes management?
Twin Health uses an AI-powered digital twin approach that focuses on sustainable lifestyle changes tailored to each individual's unique metabolic profile. The program aims to help members achieve weight loss and diabetes remission through precise, personalized interventions, with a goal of eliminating medications when clinically appropriate and providing continuous, real-time guidance.
How does Twin Health's payment model differ from traditional digital health solutions?
Twin Health operates on a performance-based payment model where they only get paid when users achieve specific clinical outcomes such as lower blood sugar, weight loss, or reduction of metabolic medications. This approach aligns the company's financial incentives directly with the health improvements of their participants, creating a unique value proposition for employers and health plans.