Developing a Multivariable Artificial Pancreas for Various Exercise Types and Intensities

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been a major public health problem in the U.S., affecting more than 29 million (9.3%) of the population. Type 1 diabetes (T1) is a form of DM in which very little or no insulin is produced by the pancreas, resulting in high blood sugar levels in the body. Many people with T1DM use daily physical activity to help with their blood glucose level regulation. Current insulin preparations and insulin delivery are not able to adjust to the changes in blood glucose associated with the unplanned changes in physical activities. Therefore, an AP or “closed loop” system that can be adjusted with time flexibility is desirable. The focused objective of this research study is to detect and mitigate the effects of exercise on blood glucose concentrations through the development of a Multivariable Adaptive Artificial Pancreas System (MAAP) in Type 1 Diabetes. Currently, experiments are being extended to evaluate a semi-closed-loop algorithm (i.e., a closed loop algorithm that has periodic manual inputs) during physical activity and exercise; and to compare them to open loop control under identical conditions. This, in turn, will help visualize a healthier and better future for those with Type 1 diabetes