Intravenous insulin infusion system to determine insulin regimen in diabetics.

Abstract

An algorithm for insulin infusion system to control blood glucose was derived from results of intravenous (i.v.) insulin infusion performed on 10 diabetics. I.v. insulin infusion was done on 14 diabetics for 24 hr using the algorithm, and blood glucose was controlled within the proper range in all cases; mean blood glucose was 130 +/- 42 mg/100 ml. During the examination, 4 of 14 cases did not need insulin infusion from midnight to the morning (type A) and 7 cases needed insulin infusion from midnight to the morning (type B). In 3 cases, insulin infusion was not needed at midnight, but blood glucose rose markedly in the early morning followed by insulin infusion (type C). The insulin regimen was determined according to the amount of insulin infused during the examination, dividing insulin dosages into two separate doses using semilente in the morning and a mixture of regular and lente insulin in the evening. In all the cases of type A and B, blood glucose was controlled well on the calculated regimen of insulin. However, good control of blood glucose was not obtained in 3 diabetics of type C. It is concluded that the algorithm is reliable in the estimation of the insulin infusion rate to control blood glucose in the diabetics, and the insulin regimen calculated from the result of intravenous insulin infusion is proper in about 78% of the diabetics.