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, wherein said setup means also receives first historical insulin response data specific to the individual;   measuring means for determining a first blood glucose level for said individual;   calculating means responsive to said first blood glucose level for determining a proper first dextrose dosage amount for said individual when said blood glucose level is below said desired range and for determining a proper first subcutaneous insulin dosage amount for said individual when said blood glucose level is above said desired range;   delivery means for administering at least one of said first dextrose dosage amount or said first subcutaneous insulin dosage amount to said individual;   evaluation means responsive to said first blood glucose level and said first historical insulin response data 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 when said time interval has elapsed;   wherein said evaluation means is responsive to a second blood glucose level determined by said measuring means to determine a second historical insulin response data for the individual; and   wherein said calculating means is further responsive to and said first and said second historical insulin response data to determine a proper second subcutaneous insulin dosage amount for said individual when said second blood glucose level is above said desired range.   
     
     
         2 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said measuring means operates on a periodic basis having a time period specified by the evaluation means. 
     
     
         3 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said calculating means is further responsive to at least one criteria associated with said individual. 
     
     
         4 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said criteria comprises previously administered insulin delivery dosages for said individual. 
     
     
         5 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said criteria comprises information regarding food previously consumed by said individual. 
     
     
         6 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said individual is a patient in a hospital. 
     
     
         7 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said individual is a resident of a nursing home facility. 
     
     
         8 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said individual is in an out-patient setting. 
     
     
         9 . The system described in  claim 1 , further comprising estimating means responsive to said first of second calculated glucose dosage amount or said first of second calculated insulin dosage amount, and to at least one criteria associated with said individual, for estimating the accuracy of said first or second calculated dosage amount. 
     
     
         10 . The system described in  claim 11 , further comprising notification means for generating an alert signal when said estimated accuracy is below a predetermined level. 
     
     
         11 . The system described in  claim 10 , wherein said alert signal is auditory. 
     
     
         12 . The system described in  claim 10 , wherein said alert signal is visual. 
     
     
         13 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said timing means signal is auditory. 
     
     
         14 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said timing means signal is visual. 
     
     
         15 . The system described in  claim 1 , wherein said delivery means comprises an insulin pump.