Design and Basic Verification of a Discrete Event Simulator for Glucose Metabolism in Human Beings

Abstract

This thesis describes the design and basic verification of a discrete event simulator for glucose metabolism in human beings. The simulator implements the glucose metabolism related behavior of various organs in the human body and tracks the blood plasma glucose level as the human body goes through a sequence of diet and exercise events. The simulator can mimic insulin resistance in various organs as well as the loss of insulin production in the pancreas and the adverse impact of these changes on the metabolic behavior of various organs. Thus, the simulator can serve as a model for people with diabetes. Such a model can be immensely useful to study the impact of specific life style changes on a person with diabetes. This thesis describes the simulator design as well as the results of simulations that verify the basic correctness of the simulator. This simulator represents the result of a multi-year collaborative effort involving the author, her MS thesis advisor and several other students working with the thesis advisor.