Blood Glucose Control during Physical Activity in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Scheme of blood glucose control using the assistance system: The assistance system receives manually inserted information on meal intake and physical activity and is furthermore informed by a sensor for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The insulin delivery is then adapted based on the received information and an individualized model of the glucose insulin metabolism.
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Project description
Patients with Diabetes mellitus type 1 do not produce the blood glucose lowering hormone insulin. Instead, the blood glucose level is controlled by an exogenous injection of insulin. An adequate insulin dose is essential to prevent low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia), which pose an acute danger, and high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia), which are problematic in the long-term. Due to the delayed effect of subcutaneously injected insulin, the insulin dose must be determined foresightedly. Multiple disturbances like meals or physical activity impede a precise prediction of the insulin demand. This project focuses on the particularly challenging impact of physical activity. Mathematical models of the glucose insulin metabolism are a valuable tool in the development of strategies for blood glucose control. They enable a description and forecast of the blood glucose level and can thus be used for the development and validation of control strategies. Several models of the glucose insulin metabolism considering the impact of physical activity are described in literature. However, none of these models was thoroughly evaluated. Even though the model accuracy is essential for the significance of simulation results and derived control strategies, there is only little information about it.
Project goals
In the course of this project, pre-existing models describing the impact of physical activity on the glucose insulin metabolism are analyzed and enhanced. Furthermore, an evaluation of the model accuracy with clinical data is planned. The long-term objective is the development of a model based assistance system, which provides individually optimized suggestions for therapy adaptations during physical activity.