Can diabetes management apps help you?
Time to ask yourself some questions?
Do you want to simplify your diabetes management? Do you have a smartphone or device?
If you said yes to both, then diabetes management apps can help!
So what are diabetes management apps? Why use them?
Apps are programs that you can install on your device to help you with some common tasks to manage diabetes.
Some examples include:
- Count carbohydrate
- Track your physical activity
- Monitor your blood glucose levels
- Manage stress
- Find information or support online
Apps can help reduce the burden by making such tasks easier, or to remind you to do certain things so you don’t forget.
New to apps? How do I start?
Go to the App store for Apple (iOS) devices, or Google Play Store for Android ones.
To get started, go under “Search” or click the magnifier symbol.
Then, type in your topic, like “blood glucose”, and tap “enter” or “search”.
Which apps are right for me? Are paid or free ones better?
Chances are, your search gave you too many apps for you to choose from. To save you time, we shortlisted some popular ones for you here to start with.
You may have to pay to use most apps long-term nowadays. However, many offer free trial or lite versions that have limited features or have a short trial period before you choose to pay for full features or ongoing use.
Explore different apps to get a sense of what works best for you. It may depend on how well it functions for you, how pleasing it looks to you, or whether it is intuitive enough. Certain features and benefits may just suit your needs better for different occasions.
What things to consider or watch out for?
Choose apps that use Australian units, like mmol/L, kg or g (rather than mg/dL, lb or oz). For food-related apps, use those that are based on the Australian food supply. Overseas ingredients and food labels can cause confusion.
What else do I need to know about apps?
Apps do not replace your diabetes healthcare professional, although they can support you to achieve your diabetes goals.
Ask your diabetes team what apps they recommend, based on your goals, needs and preferences. Alternatively, you might like to book an appointment with one of the Diabetes Victoria clinicians to better understand diabetes tecnology and management,
