Glucose Regulation in Diabetes

Complicated and extensive models of glucose regulation, involving several variables, have been developed over the years. Our research specifically focuses on the feedback loop between insulin and glucagon. Although our model is simpler than a model including state variables such as non-esterified fatty acids concentration in the blood plasma, β-cell mass, TAG content of lipocytes, and/or leptin concentrations in the blood plasma, we are still able to simulate most of the key effects of diabetes and other health problems on glucose regulation; such as, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinism, and insulin shock (hypoglycemia). We are even able to simulate eating a bowl of vanilla ice cream! 3