Diabetes management methods and systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and systems for monitoring the effectiveness of diabetes treatment. Methods and systems in accordance with the present invention provide information relating to variability of glucose levels and hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Such information is based on time-stamped blood glucose data obtained from a meter or the like and actual measurements of HbA1c levels are not required.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system that can provide variability indices of glycemia and estimated HbA1c levels in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative output that can be generated and sent to a visual display and used for managing blood glucose in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary sequence of steps for managing blood glucose in accordance with the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of managing blood glucose data, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of blood glucose data collected over a predetermined period of time;estimating an idiosyncratic HbA1c level from the plurality of blood glucose data using a first predetermined algorithm having at least one exclusion criteria;calculating an idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia from the plurality of blood glucose data using a second predetermined algorithm having at least one exclusion criteria; andcomparing the idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia and the idiosyncratic HbA1c level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one exclusion criteria for one or both of the first and second algorithms comprises at least one of a history of insufficient testing, a frequency outside of a specified number of tests per day, and a requirement for specified randomness of data on a daily basis.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising reporting the idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia and the idiosyncratic HbA1c level when the at least one exclusion criteria for one or both of the first and second algorithms is not met.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the reporting step comprises reporting the idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia in relation to the idiosyncratic HbA1c level.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the reporting step comprises providing the idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia in relation to the idiosyncratic HbA1c level on a weekly basis.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the reporting step comprises providing the idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia in relation to the idiosyncratic HbA1c level on a monthly basis.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the reporting step comprises providing the idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia and the idiosyncratic HbA1c level in tabular form.

8. A method of managing blood glucose data, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of blood glucose data collected over a predetermined period of time;estimating an idiosyncratic HbA1c level from the plurality of blood glucose data using a first predetermined algorithm having at least one exclusion criteria;calculating an idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia from the plurality of blood glucose data using a second predetermined algorithm having at least one exclusion criteria;determining the idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia as a function of the idiosyncratic HbA1c level; andproviding the reported idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia and idiosyncratic HbA1c level while indicating at least one aspect of glycemic control.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one aspect of glycemic control comprises target, cautionary, and danger regions of glycemic control.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one exclusion criterion for one or both of the first and second algorithms comprises at least one of a history of testing, a frequency of tests per day, and a randomness of data on a daily basis.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining step comprises determining the idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia as a function of the idiosyncratic HbA1c level on a weekly basis.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining step comprises determining the idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia as a function of the idiosyncratic HbA1c level on a monthly basis.

13. A system for managing blood glucose data, the system comprising: a processor programmed to: receive a plurality of blood glucose data collected over a predetermined period of time;provide an estimation of an idiosyncratic HbA1c level from the plurality of blood glucose data;provide a calculation of an idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia from the plurality of blood glucose data; andreport the idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia and the idiosyncratic HbA1c level when at least one exclusion criterion is not met.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one exclusion criterion includes a history of testing, a frequency of tests per day, and a randomness of data on a daily basis.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is programmed to report the idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia as a function of the idiosyncratic HbA1c level on a weekly basis.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is programmed to report the idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia as a function of the idiosyncratic HbA1c level on a monthly basis.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is programmed to report the idiosyncratic variability index of glycemia and the idiosyncratic HbA1c level in tabular form.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is programmed to estimate the idiosyncratic HbA1c level from a previously measured HbA1c level.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising a blood glucose measurement device.

20. The system of claim 13, further comprising a memory device.