Modeling diabetes.

Description

Our body continuously strives to achieve homeostasis. It does so through a number of interlocked biological feedback loops, such as the endocrine system—a collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood, among other things.

The pancreas, an organ of the endocrine system is integral to our control of blood glucose. Diabetes limits its ability to do so. Our various means of blood glucose control can be modeled as a first order control system or feedback loop.

The following is a compendium of models on diabetes.

Open loop process

Modeling diabetes.

Closed loop process (control system)

Modeling diabetes.

An example:
A mechanical thermostat

Modeling diabetes.

Healthy person

Modeling diabetes.

Person with diabetes making manual injections

Modeling diabetes.

Person with diabetes and an artificial pancreas

Modeling diabetes.

Physiological feedback loop (with artificial control system)

Modeling diabetes.

Physiological feedback loop augmented by behavioral and environmental data

Modeling diabetes.

Feedback loops are not isolated and naturally interact; emerging systems promise to address this complexity.

Modeling diabetes.