Modified minimal model for effect of physical exercise on insulin sensitivity and glucose effectiveness in type 2 diabetes and healthy human

Abstract

The Bergman’s minimal model of glucose and insulin plasma levels is commonly used to analyse the results of glucose tolerance tests in humans. In this paper, we present the modified minimal model with plasma insulin compartment under the assumption that if the plasma glucose compartment drops below the basal glucose levels, the rate of insulin entering the plasma glucose compartment is zero. Insulin is cleared from the plasma insulin compartment at a rate proportional to the amount of insulin in the plasma insulin compartment. The modified minimal model was used to study the effect of physical exercise via parameters of a mathematical model to qualitative the magnitude of changes in insulin sensitivity (S_I) and glucose effectiveness (S_G) in response to exercise in type 2 diabetes and healthy human. The short-term effects of physical exercise in type 2 diabetes did not improve S_G, but markedly improved the low S_I values found in type 2 diabetes, indicating that the effects of exercise on S_I are quantitatively important in the interpretation of training-related S_I changes and may even be therapeutically useful in type 2 diabetes patients. Physical exercise is indicated either to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes or to assure a good control of type 2 diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity.