Mixed meal modeling and disturbance rejection in type I diabetic patients

A mixed meal model was developed to capture the gut absorption of glucose, protein, and free fatty acid (FFA) from a mixed meal into the circulatory system. The output of the meal model served as a disturbance to the extended minimal model, which successfully captured plasma FFA, glucose and insulin concentration dynamics and interactions. A model predictive controller (MPC) was synthesized to reject meal disturbances and maintain normoglycemia. The dynamic fit of blood glucose after mixed meal consumption was consistent with the published data. The results from the closed-loop simulations were also promising; the MFC was able to maintain the glucose concentration within the normoglycemic range during and after consumption of a mixed meal.