Systems and methods for detecting hypoglycemic events having a reduced incidence of false alarms

1. A method for establishing a critical sampling rate for a continuous glucose monitor having a continuous glucose sensor, processor, and memory, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing with the processor and memory of the glucose monitor, a preferred number of measurements within a target zone, a predetermined critical threshold, and a predetermined hypoglycemic threshold, in which the target zone comprises a number of glucose measurements measured within a glucose concentration interval and within a time interval wherein said preferred number is about three;

measuring with a continuous glucose sensor a plurality of glucose concentrations at a predetermined first sampling rate;

calculating with the processor an actual rate of change in glucose concentration based on said plurality of glucose concentrations;

modifying with the processor, said first sampling rate to a second sampling rate using a function based on said preferred number of measurements within a target zone, said predetermined critical threshold, said predetermined hypoglycemic threshold, and said actual rate of change in glucose concentration; and

activating a hypoglycemic alarm to detect a hypoglycemic glucose concentration once said first sampling rate is modified to give a second sampling rate.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of modifying said first sampling rate to said second sampling rate comprises the steps of:

multiplying said preferred number of measurements within a target zone with said actual rate of change in glucose concentration to give a product; and

dividing said product by a difference between said predetermined critical threshold and said predetermined hypoglycemic threshold to give said second sampling rate.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of modifying said first sampling rate to said second sampling rate using said function based on an equation, said equation being

Second

⁢

⁢

Sampling

⁢

⁢

Rate

≥

TZ

*

bgr

G

crit

-

G

hypo

where TZ is said preferred number of measurements within said target zone, bgr is said actual rate of change in glucose concentration, G crit is said predetermined critical threshold, and G hypo is said predetermined hypoglycemic threshold.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined critical threshold is about 55 mg/dL and said predetermined hypoglycemic threshold is about 70 mg/dL.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said actual rate of change in glucose concentration ranges from about negative 5 milligram per deciliter per minute to about zero milligram per deciliter per minute.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said preferred number of measurements within said target zone is a number of glucose measurements within a glucose concentration interval and within a time interval,

said glucose concentration interval is from about said predetermined critical threshold to about said predetermined hypoglycemic threshold, and

said time interval is from a lower time value where said continuous glucose monitor is estimated to measure a glucose concentration at said predetermined hypoglycemic threshold to an upper time value where said continuous glucose monitor is estimated to measure a glucose concentration at said predetermined critical threshold.