Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
Derivative weighted active insulin control modelling and clinical trials for ICU patients
Carmen V Doran1, Nicolas H Hudson, Katherine T Moorhead
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Abstract:
Close control of blood glucose levels significantly reduces vascular complications in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetic individuals. Heavy derivative controllers using the data density available from emerging biosensors are developed to provide tight, optimal control of elevated blood glucose levels, while robustly handling variation in patient response. A two-compartment glucose regulatory system model is developed for intravenous infusion from physiologically verified subcutaneous infusion models enabling a proof-of-concept clinical trial at the Christchurch Hospital Department of Intensive Care Medicine. This clinical trial is the first of its kind to test a high sample rate feedback control algorithm for tight glucose regulation. The clinical trial results show tight control with reductions of 79-89% in blood glucose excursions for an oral glucose tolerance test. Experimental performance is very similar to modelled behaviour. Results include a clear need for an additional accumulator dynamic for insulin behaviour in transport to the blood and strong correlation of 10% or less between modelled insulin infused and the amounts used in clinical trials. Finally, the heavy derivative PD control approach is seen to be able to bring blood glucose levels below the (elevated) basal level, showing the potential for truly tight control.
Related Concept Videos
Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
Insulin Formulations: Types and Delivery
Short-acting insulins are divided into rapid-acting...
One-Compartment Open Model for IV Bolus Administration: Estimation of Clearance
In the one-compartment open model for intravenous (IV) bolus administration, clearance is estimated by dividing the elimination rate by the plasma drug concentration. This equation leverages the elimination rate constant and the apparent...
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations
One-Compartment Model: IV Infusion
The one-compartment model for IV infusion uses mathematical equations to describe the rate of change in drug quantity in the body. At steady-state or infusion equilibrium, the drug input...
