Apps to help control your diabetes
If you're one of the 415 million people worldwide who have diabetes, you know that managing the condition can be a full-time job. There's always something to think about: your blood sugar levels, your diet, your fitness level, your medications... It can be tough to stay on top of everything, and that's where these apps come in.
There are plenty of applications out there that cater to different aspects of diabetes management. Some track blood sugar levels, others help with carb counting or provide information on local support groups.
We've rounded up some of the best apps to help you take control of your diabetes. We've included 2 apps that work with continuous glucose monitoring systems, as they are becoming more popular, especially with type 1 diabetes patients.
But first, what is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when there is too much sugar (glucose) in the blood. The body either doesn't produce enough insulin to process the glucose, or the cells become resistant to insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose from the blood into the cells, where it's used for energy.
There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, occurs when the body doesn't produce any insulin. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin injections for their body to be able to use sugar and to control, thereby, their blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes, which makes up about 90% of all cases of Diabetes, occurs when the body doesn't make enough insulin or becomes resistant to it. Type 2 Diabetes is often diagnosed in adults over 40 years old; however, more and more children are being diagnosed with this form of Diabetes.
What should you look for in a diabetes app?
When choosing a diabetes app, it's important to consider what features and clinical objectives are most important to you. Some apps focus on blood sugar tracking, while others help with carb counting or provide information on local support groups. Consider what would be most helpful to you in managing your diabetes.
It's also important to consider the privacy and security of your data. Make sure the app you choose has robust security measures in place to protect your personal information. Also consider whether the app has proven to provide benefits to patients as reported in published studies, and whether experts have reviewed and recommended it. AppGuide can help you find this information quickly and painlessly.
Using health apps can help you achieve your treatment goals in diabetes management. It is important that you discuss the use of this tool with your healthcare professional.
9 apps to help control your diabetes
Now, let's take a look at some good examples of apps for diabetes.
The MySugr app helps people with diabetes track and manage their condition. The app features a dashboard for fast tracking of various data (blood glucose levels, diet, medication intake, carb intake and more), a bolus calculator for insulin dose recommendations, graphs of blood sugar levels and gives estimated HbA1c levels. This app includes reports that can be shared directly with a doctor. To import blood glucose levels, the tool requires an Accu-Chek blood glucose meter or the use of the Apple Health app.
SocialDiabetes app allows users to log important diabetes data, such as blood glucose levels, insulin dosage, carbs intake, medications administration and physical activity. It also provides tools to help with daily diabetes calculations, such as an insulin dosage calculator and carb calculator. Additionally, the app can generate reports and connect with a healthcare provider for remote monitoring. SocialDiabetes syncs with a wide range of blood glucose meters, as well as Google Fit and Fitbit products.
The OneTouch Reveal mobile app can help patients with diabetes manage their disease by providing insights into their blood sugar levels, tracking their progress over time, and setting personalized goals. The app also allows patients to share their progress with their care team between visits.
The Bant app allows patients to collect data on their diabetes (glucose levels, insulin administered, weight, meals, steps) on a daily basis, which can be viewed as lists to track changes over time. This app helps users understand how their unique lifestyle impacts their blood glucose control. Blood sugar data from various glucometers can be synced directly in this app for automatic monitoring.
One Drop is an app that helps patients in the self-monitoring and self-management of their diabetes and some related health issues, such as hypertension, obesity and physical inactivity. Patients can enter their blood sugar, weight, blood pressure, physical activity, meals, adherence and other data, which can then be exported and shared with their healthcare team. It offers one-on-one coaching, customized content, and AI-powered insights to help people make healthy changes. This app stands out by offering access to a community of patients, which few other apps offer
The Dario Health app is a diabetes tracker that can help monitor blood glucose levels and provide insights into which foods and activities may impact blood sugar levels. The app also has a hypoglycemia alert system with GPS locator to help send an emergency text message to contacts in case of a dangerously low blood sugar event.
The Dexcom G6 is a wearable CGM device that helps people with diabetes manage their disease. The app provides personalized trend alerts, allows users to share their glucose data with followers, and has a Today View widget that displays glucose data on the lock screen of the smart device.
The FreeStyle Libre 2 app is a sensor-based CGM system that helps people with diabetes better manage their disease. The app provides detailed reports, alarms, and insights to help users make informed decisions about their treatment.
The Glooko app is a universal diabetes management platform that helps patients understand how their diabetes medication, food and activity levels can affect their blood sugar. Glooko is compatible with most glucose monitors, insulin pumps, and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) available on the market. This app also allows users to share their reports with their healthcare provider, so that informed changes can be made to their care plan.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many apps available to help you manage your diabetes. For more app suggestions, or if you need help finding the right one for you, check out the AppGuide's Diabetes page.
Your health care professional can help you choose
Feeling confident is important. Get all the essential information about health apps by talking to your healthcare professional.
AppGuide provides reliable information about mobile health apps that allows patients and healthcare professionals to make informed, shared decisions about using a health app to track health status or act on your priority health goals.