Sensitivity of the Predictive Hypoglycemia Minimizer System to the Algorithm Aggressiveness Factor

Advances in Type 1 Diabetes Technology Over the Last Decade

The past 10 years have witnessed rapid advances in the technology used to treat patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). While the disease burden is still high, these advances have contributed to improvements in both glycaemic control and quality of life for many of those affected. New technologies allow for individualisation of care, as patients are able to work with their providers to determine which systems best fit their lifestyle and needs. In addition, thanks to improved glucose monitoring technologies, patients can now simultaneously improve glycaemic control and reduce hypoglycaemia, thereby mitigating risk for acute and chronic complications. Technological advances in T1D care are rapidly moving us toward increasingly automated devices, which offer the promise of reduced disease burden. In this article, we review advances in glucose monitoring, insulin and glucagon delivery, and the applications and algorithms seeking to integrate novel technologies.

Design and Clinical Evaluation of the Interoperable Artificial Pancreas System (iAPS) Smartphone App: Interoperable Components with Modular Design for Progressive Artificial Pancreas Research and Development

BACKGROUND

There is an unmet need for a modular artificial pancreas (AP) system for clinical trials within the existing regulatory framework to further AP research projects from both academia and industry. We designed, developed, and tested the interoperable artificial pancreas system (iAPS) smartphone app that can interface wirelessly with leading continuous glucose monitors (CGM), insulin pump devices, and decision-making algorithms while running on an unlocked smartphone.

METHODS

After algorithm verification, hazard and mitigation analysis, and complete system verification of iAPS, six adults with type 1 diabetes completed 1 week of sensor-augmented pump (SAP) use followed by 48 h of AP use with the iAPS, a Dexcom G5 CGM, and either a Tandem or Insulet insulin pump in an investigational device exemption study. The AP system was challenged by participants performing extensive walking without exercise announcement to the controller, multiple large meals eaten out at restaurants, two overnight periods, and multiple intentional connectivity interruptions.

RESULTS

Even with these intentional challenges, comparison of the SAP phase with the AP study showed a trend toward improved time in target glucose range 70-180 mg/dL (78.8% vs. 83.1%; P = 0.31), and a statistically significant reduction in time below 70 mg/dL (6.1% vs. 2.2%; P = 0.03). The iAPS system performed reliably and showed robust connectivity with the peripheral devices (99.8% time connected to CGM and 94.3% time in closed loop) while requiring limited user intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

The iAPS system was safe and effective in regulating glucose levels under challenging conditions and is suitable for use in unconstrained environments.

Intraperitoneal insulin delivery provides superior glycaemic regulation to subcutaneous insulin delivery in model predictive control-based fully-automated artificial pancreas in patients with type 1 diabetes: a pilot study

AIMS

To compare intraperitoneal (IP) to subcutaneous (SC) insulin delivery in an artificial pancreas (AP).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Ten adults with type 1 diabetes participated in a non-randomized, non-blinded sequential AP study using the same SC glucose sensing and Zone Model Predictive Control (ZMPC) algorithm adjusted for insulin clearance. On first admission, subjects underwent closed-loop control with SC delivery of a fast-acting insulin analogue for 24 hours. Following implantation of a DiaPort IP insulin delivery system, the identical 24-hour trial was performed with IP regular insulin delivery. The clinical protocol included 3 unannounced meals with 70, 40 and 70 g carbohydrate, respectively. Primary endpoint was time spent with blood glucose (BG) in the range of 80 to 140 mg/dL (4.4-7.7 mmol/L).

RESULTS

Percent of time spent within the 80 to 140 mg/dL range was significantly higher for IP delivery than for SC delivery: 39.8 ± 7.6 vs 25.6 ± 13.1 ( P = .03). Mean BG (mg/dL) and percent of time spent within the broader 70 to 180 mg/dL range were also significantly better for IP insulin: 151.0 ± 11.0 vs 190.0 ± 31.0 ( P = .004) and 65.7 ± 9.2 vs 43.9 ± 14.7 ( P = .001), respectively. Superiority of glucose control with IP insulin came from the reduced time spent in hyperglycaemia (>180 mg/dL: 32.4 ± 8.9 vs 53.5 ± 17.4, P = .014; >250 mg/dL: 5.9 ± 5.6 vs 23.0 ± 11.3, P = .0004). Higher daily doses of insulin (IU) were delivered with the IP route (43.7 ± 0.1 vs 32.3 ± 0.1, P < .001) with no increased percent time spent <70 mg/dL (IP: 2.5 ± 2.9 vs SC: 4.1 ± 5.3, P = .42).

CONCLUSIONS

Glycaemic regulation with fully-automated AP delivering IP insulin was superior to that with SC insulin delivery. This pilot study provides proof-of-concept for an AP system combining a ZMPC algorithm with IP insulin delivery.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring: A Review of Recent Studies Demonstrating Improved Glycemic Outcomes

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) has been demonstrated to be clinically valuable, reducing risks of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, glycemic variability (GV), and improving patient quality of life for a wide range of patient populations and clinical indications. Use of CGM can help reduce HbA1c and mean glucose. One CGM device, with accuracy (%MARD) of approximately 10%, has recently been approved for self-adjustment of insulin dosages (nonadjuvant use) and approved for reimbursement for therapeutic use in the United States. CGM had previously been used off-label for that purpose. CGM has been demonstrated to be clinically useful in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes for patients receiving a wide variety of treatment regimens. CGM is beneficial for people using either multiple daily injections (MDI) or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). CGM is used both in retrospective (professional, masked) and real-time (personal, unmasked) modes: both approaches can be beneficial. When CGM is used to suspend insulin infusion when hypoglycemia is detected until glucose returns to a safe level (low-glucose suspend), there are benefits beyond sensor-augmented pump (SAP), with greater reduction in the risk of hypoglycemia. Predictive low-glucose suspend provides greater benefits in this regard. Closed-loop control with insulin provides further improvement in quality of glycemic control. A hybrid closed-loop system has recently been approved by the U.S. FDA. Closed-loop control using both insulin and glucagon can reduce risk of hypoglycemia even more. CGM facilitates rigorous evaluation of new forms of therapy, characterizing pharmacodynamics, assessing frequency and severity of hypo- and hyperglycemia, and characterizing several aspects of GV.

The Hypoglycaemia-Hyperglycaemia Minimizer System in the Management of Type 1 Diabetes

Living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) presents many challenges in terms of daily living. Insulin users need to frequently monitor their blood glucose levels and take multiple injections per day and/or multiple boluses through an insulin infusion pump, with the consequences of failing to match the insulin dose to the body's needs resulting in hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia. The former can result in seizures, coma and even death; the latter can have both acute and long-term health implications. Many patients with T1D also fail to meet their treatment goals. In order to reduce the burdens of self-administering insulin, and improve efficacy and safety, there is a need to at least partially remove the patient from the loop via a closed-loop 'artificial pancreas’ system. The Hypoglycaemia-Hyperglycaemia Minimizer (HHM) System, comprising a continuous, subcutaneous insulin infusion pump, continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and closed-loop insulin dosing algorithm, is able to predict changes in blood glucose and adjust insulin delivery accordingly to help keep the patient at normal glucose levels. Early clinical data indicate that this system is feasible, effective and safe, and has the potential to dramatically improve the therapeutic outcomes and quality of life for people with T1D.