Automatic Medication Delivery Carbohydrate Recommendation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with diabetes face challenges in managing blood glucose levels during hypoglycemic events, often leading to inappropriate carbohydrate intake, resulting in hyperglycemia and increased glycemic variability, which affects Time in Range (TIR), continuous glucose monitor (CGM) standard deviation, and HbA1c readings.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determine the appropriate amount of rescue carbohydrates to be consumed by assessing factors such as the rate of change of glucose, insulin-on-board, and other factors, using an artificial pancreas algorithm to recommend carbohydrate intake and maintain blood glucose within a target range, thereby reducing the risk of hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually deliver bolus insulin and self-manage carbohydrate intake, then they can control their blood glucose levels, but they risk inappropriate carbohydrate intake leading to hyperglycemia and increased glycemic variability
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors blood glucose levels via CGM and uses this feedback to automatically adjust insulin delivery through the pump, resolving the contradiction by replacing manual user decisions with automated closed-loop control that reliably maintains glucose within target ranges
Solution Approach 2:
The automated insulin delivery system performs the insulin management function autonomously based on glucose sensor data, eliminating the need for users to manually calculate and administer insulin doses, thereby improving reliability while reducing operational burden
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If users intake carbohydrates to treat hypoglycemia, then blood glucose levels increase, but excessive carbohydrate intake causes rebound hyperglycemia and increased glycemic variability
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects downward glucose trends before hypoglycemia occurs and proactively adjusts insulin delivery or alerts the user to consume carbohydrates, preventing the need for reactive carbohydrate intake that could lead to rebound hyperglycemia
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical/manual process of monitoring symptoms and deciding on carbohydrate intake with an automated electronic system that continuously analyzes glucose data and provides precise, data-driven recommendations
3Extent of automation
If automated insulin delivery is implemented, then insulin management is improved, but users still manually deliver bolus insulin which may not be the optimal quantity needed
Solution Approach 1:
The automated insulin delivery system integrates multiple functions including basal insulin delivery, bolus calculation, carbohydrate counting, and glucose monitoring into a unified system that provides comprehensive glucose management with optimized insulin dosing
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are techniques, devices and systems that include monitoring a trend of blood glucose measurement values over a series of measurement cycles. A processor may identify a potential excursion outside a range of a target blood glucose measurement value setting of a user based on the monitored trend. In response to the identified potential excursion, an alert may be generated to the user to consume rescue carbohydrates. In addition, the disclosed techniques may include a processor that assesses the factors related to a potential impending hypoglycemic event for a user. Based on a result of the assessment of the factors, the processor may determine whether the user is approaching the potential impending hypoglycemic event for the user. In response to a determination that the user is approaching the potential impending hypoglycemic event for the user, a number of rescue carbohydrates to suggest for consumption by the user may be determined.