Give patients more control over diabetes with mobile apps

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By Genevieve Coates

As the daughter of a diabetes nurse, I hear this all the time: I forgot to take my insulin… I don’t record my blood sugar numbers because I don’t have the time… I don’t count carbs because I don’t have the information. The list goes on. As a Type 1 diabetic myself, I know I’ve used these excuses in my past.

Encouraging diabetics, whether they be Type 1 or Type 2, to really dig in and maximize their health is a challenging proposition for doctors and nurses. But, technology has reared its head and provided options that make health an easier choice for diabetics. Here’s the best of what’s out there right now.

Bant (iOS – Free)

Bant allows users to capture their blood sugar readings using an intuitive, easy-to-use interface. Just swipe your last reading and it’s recorded. Users can also analyze their readings in 7-, 14-, 21- or 90-day trends. Readings are also stored on Microsoft HealthVault, an easy-to-access way to manage all health information. This is perfect for those attached to their laptop or tablet.

Track3 Diabetes Planner (Android, iOS — $6.99)

This app is good for tracking purposes, whether it be exercise, food intake, or blood sugar and insulin levels. You can customize the app to fit your specific insulin types and types, as well as your favorite exercises. It’s also got a function for carbohydrate and calorie values for over 80,000 foods, but its limitation is that you can’t really enter the true serving size of your food if it’s not the app’s standard value.

KeepTrack (Android – Free; KeepTrack Pro $1.99)

KeepTrack is a great way to have patients share information with their health care professional. This app allows the user to track blood sugar readings, as well as their weight and exercise results. I use this particular app on my TMobile Galaxy S iii (I’m sure it works just as well on other Android-ready phones), and I’ve been able to better relay my ongoing health questions to my doctor and nurse. This app is also perfect for those that are particularly forgetful, in that it will remind you when it’s time to enter information or take your insulin dosages.

Diabetes Buddy (iOS – Free)

Diabetes Buddy allows users to track not only their blood sugars, but also factors that can influence blood sugars, like activity (or inactivity). This is another app that makes it much easier for the patient to share information with their doctor or nurse.

Diabetes Log (iOS – Free)

Diabetes Log makes it easy for diabetics to track blood sugar readings, food intake and medication records. Developer Chris Ross promises new features in the future, such as exporting records via e-mail and the ability to edit medication types, which would make this easy-to-use app even better for diabetics.

Typing “diabetes” in the search function on your phone’s app store will produce many, many more apps that can help your patient improve their health… today!

Genevieve Coates is a staff writer for BBgeeks.com and AndGeeks.com. She lives in Tampa, Fla., where when she’s not writing about technology, she’s tending to her massive garden.

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