This week is National Diabetes Week, an annual event to raise awareness about this serious disease which affects more than 1.7 million Australians and can result in complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, limb amputation and kidney failure. While Type 1 diabetes unfortunately can’t be prevented, Type 2 diabetes can be both prevented and controlled. With almost one million Australians suffering from Type 2 diabetes, up to three million expected to have the disease by 2025 (IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute), and over two million having pre-diabetes, there is no doubt it’s high time to take control of our health.
Despite these scary statistics, according to the latest Newspoll survey, almost 80 per cent of Australians don’t believe they are at risk of contracting diabetes and thus are doing little to monitor their health.
Whether you currently have diabetes or pre-diabetes, you are at risk group, or simply want to monitor your health, there are a few key measures to track that will help you get where you want to be. Read on for the best health tracking apps to help prevent and manage diabetes.
Blood Glucose
Reading your blood glucose levels ensures your medical professional has the knowledge required to determine the best management strategy for your diabetes. Controlling glucose levels also reduces the chance of developing further diabetes related complications.
Glucose Buddy Pro App – This data storage utility allows users to manually enter glucose numbers, carbohydrate consumption, insulin dosages, and physical activities. We love that this one uses the metric system instead of imperial (no need to whip out the calculator) and the clever graph function that makes it easy to spot trends.
iBGStar Blood Glucose Meter – This nifty accessory is the first available blood glucose meter that seamlessly connects to your iPhone or iPod Touch meaning you can manage your diabetes on the go. The tool connects to your iPhone and allows you to insert a test strip just like you would any other glucose meter. It then calculates your glucose levels and allows you to record, track, and manage your information however you like. Absolutely genius tool that makes managing diabetes that much easier. (pictured left)
Blood Pressure
Diabetes alters body chemistry in a way that can increase susceptibility to high blood pressure. By monitoring and controlling blood pressure, you can prevent diseases such as stroke, heart disease and kidney disease.
iHealth Wireless Blood Pressure Wrist Monitor – This handy wrist monitor connects via bluetooth to the iHealth app on your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch to measure and track your systolic/diastolic numbers, heart rate, pulse wave and measuremeant time. The wrist monitor itself, which uses new motion sensor technology to ensure an accurate read, is surprisingly small, discreet and easy to take on and off. Who knew tracking blood pressure could be so cool! (Pictured right)
Cholesterol Levels
By lowering both blood pressure and cholesterol levels, those with diabetes can prevent up to three times as many cardiovascular events, compared to those who only focus on reducing glucose levels (MedicineWise). Sufferers of diabetes are more inclined to have high cholesterol levels. By reducing the amount of saturated fat consumed, and managing your weight through calorie control and exercise, you can prevent or manage high cholesterol.
A favourite for the fitness-focused set, My Fitness Pal calorie counting app tracks your food and exercise. With a database of over 3,000,000 foods, this app will advise how much exercise you will need to burn off what you just ate. Managing your weight is an important factor in controlling your diabetes, and works hand in hand with maintaining your cholesterol and glucose levels and blood pressure. (Pictured above left)
The traffic light food companion gives you the red or green light based on the nutritional value of the foods you enter. Based on the amount of total fat, saturated fat, sugars and sodium per 100g, the app will let you know what’s great for you and what should be reconsidered when it comes to the food you put in your mouth.
Exercise
Research undertaken by Exercise is Medicine indicates that maintaining a healthy weight through exercise and diet can help prevent Type 2 diabetes mellitus, reducing the incidence of the disease by 60 percent, and delaying its onset. Just two and a half hours a week of physical activity can ensure that those at risk, or already diagnosed with type 1 diabetes can avoid complications, improve their overall health and enhance how insulin is used in the body- thus necessitating lesser doses.
Walk everywhere? This app will track your life and exercise, letting you know the distance travelled just by carrying it in your pocket or bag. (Pictured right)
Track how you eat, sleep and move with this wristband so you can make better choices and become aware of issues and patterns with greater ease. We’re a little obsessed with this one – not only is it functional, but it’s also stylish, and looks more like part of your outfit than a multi-tasking piece of technology. Our only complaint? Bring back the Apple Store Exclusive Tiffany Blue band! (Pictured left)
For more information about diabetes visit https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/en/
For more information about how exercise can help diabetes visit www.exerciseismedicine.org.au
Find a handy diabetes tracker and guide at www.nps.org.au/conditions/
