What tools are available to help people with diabetes keep track of their diet, blood glucose levels, exercise, and daily symptoms? These tools include:
- Apps for smartphones, tablets, or computers that can help record blood glucose, diet, and snacks;
- Devices that test blood sugar levels every few minutes;
- a “smart pump” that delivers the insulin your body needs;
- Patients are reminded by text, phone or email to take their test or medication.
Tracking and recording blood glucose patterns
If one notices changes in one’s blood glucose levels over time, this information can help to better manage diabetes.
To learn more, you can use a device called a ambulatory glucose monitor (CGM). The device monitors blood glucose every 5 minutes throughout the day. The patch is placed on the skin and the device tests through the tiny fibers of the patch. The results are sent wirelessly to a small monitor or insulin pump, said Dr. Robert Vigersky, medical director of diabetes at Medtronic, who said the test results can help understand a patient’s blood sugar spikes before a meal, after exercise, or during sleep.
But the ambulatory glucose monitor does not replace the old-fashioned way of monitoring. Vigersky said the new “smart insulin pump” can be matched to the ambulatory glucose monitor, which is very useful for people with type 1 diabetes. “If blood glucose levels get too low, insulin injections are stopped for 2 hours,” he says. The smart pump can help avoid a sharp drop in blood sugar.
App for tracking records
Patients can choose from new smartphone, tablet, and computer apps if they don’t like to keep track in a journal, said Marisa Moore, a registered dietitian in Atlanta. moore will provide treatment recommendations for people with type 2 diabetes.
Apps can help keep track of:
- Calories, carbohydrates, and other nutritional information;
- Daily exercise and calorie burn;
- Stress levels;
- Glucose monitoring results.
“Getting into the habit of keeping a food diary can really help patients manage their diabetes. It’s easier to keep track of it by carrying your phone with you, through a mobile app,” Moore said, “and people get tired of constantly checking their blood sugar. So the tracking is helpful because it’s easy to upload data.”
She said the app syncs with devices in the doctor’s office, so patients can discuss their blood sugar levels at the time of their visit.
The new form-fitting gadgets can be clipped to a belt or worn on the wrist to measure physical activity. They can upload the data to social media sites, or the data can be used to challenge friends who have similar devices. “These gadgets can keep patients motivated if there are exercise or weight loss goals,” Moore said.
Mobile phones are another tool to help stay healthy, Vigersky said. For example, a doctor can send a text message, email or call a patient to remind them to test their blood sugar, take their medication or check their feet for wounds.
He said, “We usually tell these at patients’ visits every few months, and this is a new way to help patients learn and stick with their tracking records.”