For many diabetics, the most difficult activity in managing your condition is not the multiple finger pricks required to test your blood glucose. Instead the hard part is tracking everything else that influences that reading, including everything you eat and drink, medications you take, physical activity you take part in, and relative readings that result. If you’re busy and on-the-go all the time, logging all this information can be cumbersome.
iPhone apps can help
For optimum health, its critical that you keep track of this information so you can analyze it in combination with glucose readings. Getting the full picture will allow you and your doctor to see trends and patterns in how your body reacts to certain influences. Studies have shown that the more you are aware of your personal blood glucose trends, the more likely you are to manage your diabetes for better results.
While there are numerous computer software programs out there that can help in this matter, but they require data input from the computer. The portability of an iPhone can help you stay on top of your daily log even better. And although it hasn’t been approved by the FDA yet, there’s at least one companion device in development for the iPhone that serves as a blood glucose monitor and can upload your results directly.
Some of the more popular diabetes apps available today include:
DiabetesPilot – Average user rating: 3.5 Stars – Cost: $11.99
Designed by people with diabetes, this app gives patients an easy way to log medications, meals and glucose readings. But in addition, it can help track your daily intake of carbs, fat, protein and cholesterol, determine total calories and calculate the recommended amount of insulin needed as a result. It can also estimate your average A1C levels. The app will interface with your desktop computer and allow for printouts you can bring with you to the doctor.
Glucose Buddy – Average user rating: 3.5 Stars – Cost: Free
This free app is the #1 diabetes app in the iTunes store with more than 3 million active users, and a favorite of popular diabetes bloggers. It offers easy-to-use logging capabilities and ties to an online account that allows you to review results, track trends and estimate your AIC average. The app is desktop compatible, allowing for printing. A new feature also sends push notifications for reminders and alerts.
Diabetes Log – Average user rating: 3 Stars – Cost: Free
This free diabetes app offers a simple, no-frills approach and is one of the easiest to use. While it does have some limitations in the data that can be recorded and stored, features include the ability to export data in a CSV (comma separated values) format for use with a spreadsheet or uploading into other programs. If you already have other systems in place to track and monitor trending, this simple iPhone app could offer the best on-the-go logging for you.
Track 3 Diabetes Planner – Average User rating: 4 Stars – Cost: $5.99
Although a relatively new iPhone app, Track 3 is getting excellent reviews. This all-in-one program allows you to log meals, exercise and medications, but the functionality goes well beyond that. It includes a built-in library of food and restaurant data for easy logging (which is updated each time you log on), and also allows you to input different types of insulin medications. The app allows for a favorites list of foods you eat frequently, and let’s you personalize exercise planning to target certain levels of activity. In addition, the app is not internet dependent so you can use it with or without online access, and it’s available in multiple languages.
Wavesense Diabetes Manger – Average User Rating: 3.5 Stars – Cost: Free
This free diabetes app is simple, yet powerful. Logging data is easy, and the reporting capabilities are extremely customizable and detailed. This app allows you to tag your glucose results so you can add context, such as foods eaten or exercise. One of the distinguishing features of Wavesense is the high quality video content available on the app itself, which may be helpful to those who are recently diagnosed.
Log for Life: Diabetes Quick Entry – Average User Rating: 2 stars – Cost: Free
While the average user rating is only 2 stars, the most recent release for this free app is the winner of the 2nd Annual DiabetesMine Design Award for 2010. Features include a two-way sync of data to and from the app, and an email interface so you can make updates to your log via email. Many users are also extremely impressed with the well-design charts and customization capabilities. This app is also available for the Blackberry and other smartphones.
What about other types of Smartphones?
A number of applications – including Log for Life mentioned above — are available for BlackBerries, Palms and other smartphone devices. However, they are frequently more cumbersome to use than those designed for the iPhone. Different apps work better with different devices, so do your research before downloading a new one.
The bottom line is, information is power. Any tool that helps you track your blood sugar levels and lifestyle can help you achieve better health. Keep in mind that by reducing your average AIC reading from above 9 to below 7.5 can significantly reduce your risk for diabetes complications. Tapping into the latest technology with your smartphone could make a huge difference in how you track and control your diabetes.
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