Modeling Blood Glucose Levels

rate constants

k

1

, digestion

0.0453

k

2

, insulin release

0.0224

initial concentrations

C

0

, blood glucose

90

G

0

, stomach carbohydrate

120

	blood glucose
	stomach carbohydrates

It is proposed that the kinetics of the reaction steps are first order, so that

dC

dt

=-

k

1

C

and

dG

dt

=

k

1

C-

k

2

(G-

G

0

)

, where

C

is the concentration of carbohydrates in the stomach and

G

is the concentration of glucose in the blood.

G

0

is the baseline value of

G

at time

t=0

. After an average meal,

G

0

=90

mg/dL and

C

0

=120

mg/dL. The rate constant

k

1

is related to how quickly the food is digested, while the rate constant

k

2

is associated with how quickly insulin is released.