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Intern: Micah Hall, The University Of Memphis Mentor: Camelia Owens Faculty Supervisor: Francis Doyle Department: Chemical Engineering

RUN-TO-RUN CONTROL OF BLOOD GLUCOSE CONCENTRATIONS FOR TYPE 1 DIABETIC PATIENTS

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a disease that is characterized by insufficient insulin production in the body. If not treated properly, the diabetic patient can experience complications due to either hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. Hyperglycemia is a state of elevated concentrations of glucose in the blood system, which over a period of time, puts the diabetic at risk of developing neuropathy, retinopathy, and other peripheral vascular diseases. Hypoglycemia occurs when blood glucose concentrations are too low. If not treated, the diabetic can lose consciousness or even die. In our study we will be applying a run-to-run algorithm in controlling blood glucose levels on a day-to-day basis. Run-to-run control exploits the repetitive nature of a meal cycles. Small perturbations in the patients’ insulin amounts and timing will be administered to develop a model that reflects a patient’s sensitivity to these adjustments. Insulin injections and blood glucose concentration measurements will be performed around the diabetic patients’ meal times (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). In collaboration with Sansum Medical Research Institute and Roche Diagnostics, Inc., a clinical trial is underway to asses the feasibility of the run-to-run algorithm in improving insulin therapy for 15 diabetic patients.

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