Diabetes management system and method for controlling blood glucose

A system for assisting a patient having diabetes mellitus in controlling blood glucose, said system comprising:

• a) an input means for entering a blood glucose value G(t.sub.d) representative of a blood glucose concentration of the patient at time t.sub.d and for entering an insulin dose value representative of an insulin dose administered to the patient prior to time t.sub.d ;
• b) a memory means for storing maximum and minimum values defining a target blood glucose range of the patient, an insulin sensitivity value representative of an insulin sensitivity of the patient, and information for determining an insulin action value F.sub.k (t.sub.d) representative of a fraction of insulin action remaining at time t.sub.d from said insulin dose;
• c) a processor connected to said input means and said memory means for determining said insulin action value F.sub.k (t.sub.d), for determining a future blood glucose value G(t.sub.j) representative of an expected blood glucose concentration of the patient at time t.sub.j, and for determining a corrective action for the patient when said future blood glucose value G(t.sub.j) lies outside of said target range, wherein said processor determines said future blood glucose value G(t.sub.j) in dependence upon said blood glucose value G(t.sub.d), said insulin dose value, said insulin sensitivity value, and said insulin action value F.sub.k (t.sub.d);
• and
• d) a display means connected to said processor for recommending said corrective action to the patient.

A method for assisting a patient having diabetes mellitus in controlling blood glucose, said method comprising the following steps:

• a) providing the patient with an apparatus for determining a future blood glucose value G(t.sub.j) representative of an expected blood glucose concentration of the patient at time t.sub.j, wherein said apparatus comprises a memory, an input means for entering a blood glucose value G(t.sub.d) representative of a blood glucose concentration of the patient at time t.sub.d and for entering an insulin dose value representative of an insulin dose administered to the patient prior to time t.sub.d, a display, and a processor connected to said memory, said input means, and said display;
• b) storing in said memory an insulin sensitivity value representative of an insulin sensitivity of the patient;
• c) storing in said memory information for determining an insulin action value F.sub.k (t.sub.d) representative of a fraction of insulin action remaining at time t.sub.d from said insulin dose;
• d) entering in said processor said insulin dose value and said blood glucose value G(t.sub.d);
• e) determining in said processor said insulin action value F.sub.k (t.sub.d);
• f) determining in said processor said future blood glucose value G(t.sub.j) in dependence upon said blood glucose value G(t.sub.d), said insulin dose value, said insulin sensitivity value, and said insulin action value F.sub.k (t.sub.d);
• and
• g) displaying said future blood glucose value G(t.sub.j) on said display, thereby enabling the patient to take timely corrective action to prevent hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.

A method for assisting a patient having diabetes mellitus in controlling blood glucose, said method comprising the following steps:

• a) providing the patient with an apparatus for determining a future blood glucose value G(t.sub.j) representative of an expected blood glucose concentration of the patient at time t.sub.j, wherein said apparatus comprises a memory, an input means for entering a blood glucose value G(t.sub.d) representative of a blood glucose concentration of the patient at time t.sub.d and for entering an insulin dose value representative of an insulin dose administered to the patient prior to time t.sub.d, a display, and a processor connected to said memory, said input means, and said display;
• b) storing in said memory an insulin sensitivity value representative of an insulin sensitivity of the patient, information for determining an insulin action value F.sub.k (t.sub.d) representative of a fraction of insulin action remaining at time t.sub.d from said insulin dose, and maximum and minimum values defining a target blood glucose range of the patient;
• c) entering in said processor said insulin dose value and said blood glucose value G(t.sub.d);
• d) determining in said processor said insulin action value F.sub.k (t.sub.d);
• e) determining in said processor said future blood glucose value G(t.sub.j) in dependence upon said blood glucose value G(t.sub.d), said insulin dose value, said insulin sensitivity value, and said insulin action value F.sub.k (t.sub.d);
• f) determining in said processor if said future blood glucose value G(t.sub.j) lies outside of said target range;
• g) determining in said processor a corrective action for the patient when said future blood glucose value G(t.sub.j) lies outside of said target range;
• and
• h) recommending said corrective action to the patient on said display.