 To facilitate patient care, Drs. Davidson and Steed developed the Glucommander in 1984, a computer based system for glycemic control in hospitalized patients. This computer-guided insulin infusion system directs the administration of intravenous insulin in response to blood glucose measurement at the patients bedside. Prior to starting the insulin infusion, the physician must specify the following parameters: the low end and high end of the target range for blood glucose, an initial factor or multiplier, and the maximum time interval between blood glucose measurements. During the infusion, the nurse enters blood glucose levels and the computer recommends the insulin infusion rate and a time to check the next blood glucose testing. The starting insulin infusion follows the formula: insulin hour multiplier x BG - 60. The multiplier is a parameter that is automatically adjusted based on the glucose pattern and response to insulin. For most adults, the initial multiplier is 0.02. The Glucommander is programmed to adjust the multiplier upwards or downwards if blood glucose levels are above or below target levels. 