Type II Diabetes and Obesity: A Control Theoretic Model

Summary

Diabetes mellitus can be further classified as Type I diabetes (TID) or Type II diabetes (TIID). TID is recognized as a complete failure in the pancreas β-cell islet. TIID is a failure in the body’s ability to regulate glucose plasma concentration within the blood. Two aspects of TIID are well recognized: impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance inhibits the organs’ to glucose uptake and the response to insulin secretion. Insulin resistance can be linked to increased levels of Free Fatty Acid (FFA) concentration within exhibited in obese individuals and diabetes patients’ offspring. Offspring of diabetes patients exhibit an extreme reduction in mitochondrial function; whereas obese individuals demonstrate high FFA concentration due to an excess of adipose tissue. FFA is linked to insulin resistance with TIID patients. Simulating glucose regulation in the body is considered to be an interesting control theory problem with significant impact. The suggested model in the paper is an attempt to address glucose regulation from a control theoretic viewpoint using the pharmacokinetic approach. The model identifies the contribution of glucose, insulin, incretins, glucagon, and FFA on glucose regulation within the body. The model consists of sub-models addressing the factors production rate (source) and clearance rate (sinks) based upon physiological responses. The model emphasizes the effect of FFA on glucose regulation, therefore creating a base for a mathematical model to simulate the behavior of early TIID diabetes glucose regulation under the effect of insulin resistance with a decreased rate in insulin secretion. The model would remain unable to simulate other behaviors of insulin impairment response exhibited within the TIID. Finally; the model creates a better understanding of TIID, further insight into prevention methods, new disease managements options in the form of diet, a better understanding of the impact of obesity on diabetes, and it can be used to investigate a possible link to cardiovascular diseases.