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Updated: Mar 1, 2026
Computer-assisted Large-scale Visualization and Quantification of Pancreatic Islet Mass, Size Distribution and Architecture
Published on: March 4, 2011
A Variable State Dimension Approach to Meal Detection and Meal Size Estimation: In Silico Evaluation Through
Objective:
This paper aims to develop an algorithm that can detect unannounced meals and estimate meal sizes to achieve a robust glucose control.
Methods:
A variable state dimension (VSD) algorithm is developed to detect unannounced meals and estimate meal sizes, where a Kalman filter operates on a quiescent state model when no meal is detected, and switches to a maneuvering state model to estimate meal information once the meal-induced glucose variability is statistically significant.
Results:
Through evaluation using 30 subjects of the UVa/Padova simulator, a basal-bolus (BB) control using the VSD-estimated meal size for each meal can achieve mean blood glucose (BG) of 142 mg/dl with an average 17.7% of time in hypoglycemia. In terms of 20 Monte-Carlo simulations for each subject over a two-day scenario, where each meal/snack has a probability of 0.5 not to be announced, the BB control using VSD for unannounced meals can achieve an average mean BG of 143 mg/dl with 8% of time in hypoglycemia, in contrast to mean BG of 180 mg/dl with 8% of time in hypoglycemia obtained by BB with missing boluses. Additionally, VSD is able to detect a meal within 45 (±14) min since its start with a 76% success rate and 16% false alarm rate.
Conclusion:
The addition of VSD to the BB control improves glucose control when meal announcements are missed.
Significance:
The VSD can be used as a complementary tool to detect meal and estimate meal size in absence of a meal announcement.
