A Subcutaneous Insulin Pharmacokinetic Model for Computer Simulation in a Diabetes Decision Support Role: Model Structure and Parameter Identification

Objective:The goal of this study was to develop a unified physiological subcutaneous (SC) insulin absorption model for computer simulation in a clinical diabetes decision support role. The model must model the plasma insulin appearance of a wide range of current insulins, especially monomer insulin and insulin glargine, utilizing common chemical states and transport rates, where appropriate.Methods:A compartmental model was developed with 13 patient-specific model parameters covering six diverse insulin types [rapid-acting, regular, neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH), lente, ultralente, and glargine insulin]. Model parameters were identified using 37 sets of mean plasma insulin time-course data from an extensive literature review via nonlinear optimization methods.Results:All fitted parameters have a coefficient of variation <100% (median 51.3%, 95th percentile 3.6–60.6%) and can be considered a posteriori identifiable.Conclusion:A model is presented to describe SC injected insulin appearance in plasma in a...