Development of the Biostator Glucose clamping algorithm

The "glucose clamping" technique has been proposed as a method for the early detection of a beginning derangement of glucose homeostasis and thus for the possible prevention of maturity-onset diabetes. This technique interrupts the physiological glucose-insulin relationship by placing a patient's blood glucose concentration under an investigator's control, for quantification of the pancreatic beta-cell response during hyperglycemic clamps and of sensitivity of body tissue to exogenous insulin during normoglycemic clamps. We report the development of a glucose clamping algorithm for use with the Biostator glucose-controlled insulin-infusion system (Horm. Metab. Res., Suppl. 8: 23-33, 1977). This algorithm adds simplicity and precision to the glucose clamping procedure and reduces operator effort to a minimum. We describe the early development of the algorithm with a model system and report evaluations made during animal studies and preliminary investigations with human subjects.