Comments on: FDA Clears Intravenous Insulin Dose Calculator

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 12:38:16 +0000

One of my favorite comment related to diabetes management is actually a quote from a Chemistry textbook, but one which describes diabetes management pretty well”

“Most chemists believe that the course of a chemical reaction is always predictable. But some catalytic reactions in both inorganic and organic chemistry can behave in bizarre and unruly ways.”

From Stephen Scott, Clocks and Chaos in Chemistry
December 2, 1989, New Scientist magazine, Issue 1693

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg12416933.700.html

By: JasonJayhawk

JasonJayhawk — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 14:55:35 +0000

[Insert funny response to Amy's comment about unconsciousness here].

Think they’ll make one for us to use during boring car rides?? Then our loved ones can inject for us while we’re snoozing? I can just see it now… my wife coming at me with shakey hands, attempting to give me insulin, and then her hand jerks enough to break the neeeee—-nevermind. I’m having a waking nightmare!

By: medmusings

medmusings — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 06:18:58 +0000

links for 2006-06-23

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By: AmyT

AmyT — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 00:42:33 +0000

Thanks for the background, Jason. I think this particular software is used mainly while patients are unconscious.

By: JasonJayhawk

JasonJayhawk — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 22:17:27 +0000

This company is not the first to come out with inpatient algorithms for insulin dosing. Several others are mentioned in papers in the Diabetes Theraputics and Technology journal. I think someone even came out with a freeware one that they “intend” to post on sourceforge.net at some point. They base it on an expert system and it helps a “diabetes layperson” (nurses) deal with the dosing; after all, many new nurses don’t even know what one unit of insulin looks like in a syringe.

The interesting thing is that the software will cost a bundle for hospitals because they need to store up a legal fund for potential deaths caused by bad advice from the software. Hence, you’ll notice that they are a “limited liability company.” This is very important, as one wrongful death lawsuit would take them out of business.

The reason you don’t see software making recommendations for outpatients (yet) is the legality of how to deal with bad advice. There is no way to predict when the person exercises or not, or when they eat something with higher fat or not.