The use of models in the self-management of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Open-loop control of blood glucose for insulin-dependent diabetes is a biomedical control problem amenable to engineering analysis even when the control decisions and actions are made manually. The fundamental components of any control system include a model of the system being controlled, and a strategy for controlling the system using the model as a guide. Most models presently used in diabetes management limit the flexibility of diabetic control strategies because of technical shortcomings. Most control strategies limit their intervention to insulin adjustments, while food, exercise, and the timing of all metabolic inputs could be manipulated by the patient if suitably powerful, individualized, physiological models could provide the appropriate guidance. The pieces of such a comprehensive model are detailed, and the clinical benefits of the flexible control strategy made possible by the model are described.
Worthington
D R
DR
SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025.
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008954:Models, Biological; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin