System for managing glucose levels in patients with diabetes or hyperglycemia

Abstract

A blood glucose maintenance system for use by hyperglycemic individuals measures their blood glucose level and calculates an appropriate glucose or insulin dosage based on the measurement. Recheck intervals responsive to dosage history are determined. Warning or alert messages or signals are produced if certain measurements or calculations fall outside established normal ranges. It is particularly useful for patients in a hospital or in-patient environment.

1 . A system for maintaining a blood glucose level in an individual comprising:
 setup means for establishing a desired range of blood glucose levels for said individual;   means for receiving a blood glucose level for said individual, wherein said blood glucose level is input by a user;   calculating means responsive to said blood glucose level for determining a proper intravenous dextrose dosage amount for said individual when said blood glucose level is below said desired range and for determining a proper intravenous insulin dosage amount for said individual when said blood glucose level is above said desired range;   notification means for generating a first alert indicating to a user the need for an administration of at least one of said dextrose dosage amount or said insulin dosage amount to said individual;   evaluation means responsive to said blood glucose level for determining a time interval for said individual after which said individual's blood glucose level is to be re-measured; and   timing means for generating a signal indicating to the user the need to re-measure the blood glucose level of said individual when said time interval has elapsed.   
     
     
         2 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said calculating means is further responsive to at least one criteria associated with said individual. 
     
     
         5 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said criteria comprises previously measured blood glucose levels for said individual. 
     
     
         6 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said criteria comprises previously administered insulin delivery dosages for said individual. 
     
     
         7 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said criteria comprises information regarding food previously consumed by said individual. 
     
     
         8 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said individual is a patient in a hospital. 
     
     
         9 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said individual is a resident of a nursing home facility. 
     
     
         10 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said individual is in an out-patient setting. 
     
     
         11 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said signal generated by said timing means is auditory. 
     
     
         16 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said signal generated by said timing means is visual. 
     
     
         17 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said signal generated by said timing means is applied to said measurement means for causing said measurement means to measure a blood glucose level for said individual. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A system for maintaining blood glucose levels in a plurality of individuals comprising:
 setup means for establishing a desired range of blood glucose levels for each one of said individuals of said plurality of individuals;   means for receiving a blood glucose level for each one of said individuals, wherein each of said blood glucose levels is input by a user;   calculating means responsive to said blood glucose level for each one of said individuals for determining a proper intravenous dextrose dosage amount for each one of said individuals whose blood glucose level is below said desired range for said individual and for determining a proper intravenous insulin dosage amount for each one of said individuals whose blood glucose level is above said desired range for said individual;   notification means for generating a first alert indicating the need for an administration of at least one of said proper dextrose dosage amount or said proper insulin dosage amount to each one of said individuals;   evaluation means responsive to said blood glucose level of each one of said individuals for determining a time interval for each one of said individuals after which said individual's blood glucose level is to be re-measured; and   timing means for generating a signal when said time interval for each of one of said individuals has elapsed; and   data storage means for maintaining information from at least one of said setup means, said measuring means, said calculating means, said delivery means, said evaluation means, or said timing means for each one of said individuals.   
     
     
         20 . The system described in  claim 19 , wherein said calculating means is further responsive to at least one criteria associated with each one of said individuals. 
     
     
         21 . The system described in  claim 19 , further comprising reporting means coupled to said data storage means for generating time-based reports for each one of said individuals. 
     
     
         22 . The system described in  claim 19 , further comprising reporting means coupled to said data storage means for generating dosage-based reports for said plurality of individuals. 
     
     
         23 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said time interval is determined by said evaluation means based upon at least one criteria associated with said individual. 
     
     
         37 . The system described in  claim 36 , wherein said criteria comprises at least two previously measured blood glucose levels for said individual.