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Scope: Development of an Insulin Pump for Athletes (IPfA) to improve bloodsugar management during moderate to extreme physical output.

Insulin dependent diabetics when initiating or enduring a high exertion activity

are required with high precision to balance insulin dosage with calorie intake.

Both variables: calorie intake and insulin dosage, are relative to the level of

exertion involved in the activity performed. For the greatest level of energy

during high physical exertion, maintaining an appropriate balance between

calorie intake and insulin dosage relative to the activity is critical. For insulin

dependent high endurance athletes, such as marathon or ultra trail runners,

high endurance road cycling, mountain biking and bi/tri-athletes, initiating

training or increasing training regimes can be a challenge due to the trial and

error of maintaining proper sugar levels. Questions such as, How much do I

need to eat before an event, How long will my sugar level last after I start

this activity, How soon should I eat after I start this activity and What

intervals should I eat and how much are significant concerns in the minds of

insulin dependent athletes.

The idea presented would be an aid to bridge the gap (balancing food, insulin,

activity) in maximizing appropriate sugar level balance for individuals who

desire to increase their physical activity performance. The bridge would be

the ability to predict blood sugar level after a given time interval based on an

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average heart rate maintained over the same time period. Figure 1 provides an

example of what can occur to a given initial sugar level over a time period with

an increased heart rate, in this case 85% of a maximum heart rate, while

maintaining a consistent basal rate.

Figure 1, Blood Sugar Loss over time due to anincreased heart rate (85% of

maximum BPM)

Description: A device that logs insulin dosage, meaning insulin on-board

and current basal rate, blood sugar level and heart rate simultaneously could

be developed by integration of a heart rate monitor and insulin pump.

Whether the blood sugar level monitoring is determined by typical blood sugar

testing and logging, or dynamic sample rate from a secondary input is not

entirely resolved. Initially, multiple blood sugar tests could be done during an

activity to establish trends. After a number of exercise events a three-

dimensional model for an individual insulin dependent athlete could be

developed. The model would provide an algorithm within the integrated heart

rate monitor/insulin pump and also provide reminders to eat during an activity,

including how many calories are needed to maintain sugar levels based on a

current and prolonged heart rate average. Figure 2 provides a cartoon of 4different exercise events, each with a different level of exertion or heart rate

average.

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Figure 2, Different blood sugar level loss rates over time based on

maintained average heart rate

Depiction: The IPfA system shown in figure 3, consists of a standardheart monitor chest strap to transmit heart rate, with a PDA or

insulin pump able to receive and record the heart rate signals,

record blood sugars and perform standard insulin pump

functionality. The PDA approach would be separate from the actual

pump, much like the Omni Pod system but with athletic

functionality: light weight, large display but small in dimensions like

an Apple I-Touch. Materials and assembly would be water and

impact resistant to withstand outdoor vigorous activity.

Figure 3, Depiction of the IPfA system.