The Top Smartphone Apps for Diabetes Care

Post updated: 8th April 2023

From medications and blood sugar readings to physical activity and meals, it’s particularly essential for diabetes patients to keep track of lots of important information. Although such information can be recorded with pencil and paper, diabetes management apps may be able to simplify the lives of diabetes patients by giving them a convenient place to log their data, set goals, track progress and see patterns.

Poor glucose control can lead to long-term diabetes, macro, and micro-vascular complications leading to higher mortality and morbidity. Therefore, anything that makes your life easier is a win.

Moreover, research shows that using smartphone diabetes apps to keep track of information can keep you in touch with your diabetes and improve your health. You’ll be more engaged with your diabetes and that is the main goal.

With an increasing number of smartphone users globally, research shows that it’s possible to apply smartphone app technology to help diabetes patients better manage their condition. In this review, we explore the use of digital health and newer technologies in diabetes self-management to improve diabetes-related outcomes.

Glucose Buddy Diabetes App

This app guides you through the activities of monitoring and recording glucose, carbohydrate intakes, exercise, AIC results, and medications and allows data to be synchronized online to glucosebuddy.com (the Diabetes Buddy Website).

It’s for both type 1 and type 2 Diabetes patients. Glucose Buddy offers reminders to take your meds and check your blood glucose at specific time intervals. Moreover, the reminders can be easily tailored to your preferences.

The app also incorporates various social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to communicate to users about changes and updates to the app. There’s also an active online forum that allows users to have questions answered by other users and share their experiences regarding other topics such as gestational diabetes or insulin pumps.

Pros

Glucose Buddy offers reminders to take your meds and check your blood glucose
Apple iPhone users can register at glucosebuddy.com to sync their logs to the site, input their glucose values or print medication and blood glucose logs for healthcare providers. You can also send reports to your healthcare provider via the website or app.

Cons

The app does not sync with CGMs (continuous glucose monitors), pumps, or meters.
Both Apple and Android users can access the Glucose Buddy website but only Apple users can sync the app with the web portal. Android users must manually input their data on the website. Since there’s no way for Android users to back up their logs, if they lose their devices and haven’t manually entered their logs on the web portal, they have to start over.
A built-in food database and calorie tracker have been planned, but the release date has not yet been set.
Users are required to pay a $3.99 fee to enable weight and blood pressure logging.

Diabetes Pilot App

Diabetes Pilot allows you to record your data in one convenient place: insulin, glucose, and other medications, exercise, meals, weight, and blood pressure averages for up to 90 days. It also contains a database that includes important nutritional information on a wide range of food items in addition to information about protein, carbohydrates, fiber, fat, cholesterol, fiber, and other nutrients.

Diabetes Pilot also features an insulin calculator that is designed to take into account the protein, carbohydrate, and fiber content of foods you enter for meals in order to calculate the number of insulin units you need to reach your targeted blood sugar level.

Pros

Record and track your data including medications, exercise, weight, blood pressure, and meals in one place. You can also use the Flexible Note Records to record your events, test results, and any other data you may like.
The integrated food database allows you to count calories carbohydrates and other nutritional information. Moreover, you can use the updated food database to search and scan barcodes.
The app generates comprehensive graphs and reports that allow you to find trends in your medications, blood sugar levels, and other areas. Save and print reports in order to share them with your doctor.
The app allows you to sync data between devices.

Cons

There are additional charges to buy the software to sync food information and data to a computer.
The insulin does not take into consideration additional factors such as previous dose, exercise, and other factors that could affect your insulin dose.

Check out the article on Non-Invasive Glucose Meter Here!

WaveSense Diabetes Manager

WaveSense Diabetes Manager allows you to keep track of your blood glucose results, insulin doses, and carbohydrate intake.

The main features include :

video content from dLife,
a log book,
email reports,
trend charts,
color-coded results,
and fully customizable mealtime schedules and target ranges for hyper-/hypoglycemia limits.

Pros

Attractive design and easy navigation
Ability to easily customize for target blood glucose range, insulin use, meal schedules, and targets for pre-/post-prandial meals.
Easy food lookup
Allows for detailed notes regarding exercise, blood glucose entry, abnormalities in medication regime, excessive fat intake, alcohol, sick days, or skipped meals.
Recipes with detailed nutrition data.
WaveSense Diabetes Manager includes a share function allowing users to email their logbook data to their dietitians or other health professionals.
Videos featuring interviews and recipe demos with diabetes patients (both celebrities and regular people).
No intrusive advertisements

Cons

The app doesn’t include an option for food journaling or a food tracker. A food journal has proven to be very helpful especially for people who have been newly diagnosed with diabetes especially when it comes to understanding how food patterns affect their blood sugar outcomes.

Read more about Diabetic Watches HERE!

There’s much enthusiasm, especially among diabetes patients, caregivers, and the industry to use a wide range of digital tools, particularly for diabetes self-management. Although large control trials are still needed to establish the cost-benefits and effectiveness of digital tools in improving diabetes outcomes, the future is promising.

Check out our article on the very popular, Liberty Diabetic supplies Here

Read about the new DARIO smartphone app for Diabetes HERE!

The Precision Pro Glucose Meter

The Precision Pro Blood Glucose and Ketone Monitoring System is designed for outside the body (in vitro) diagnostic use for measurement of D-glucose and ketone in capillary blood samples. The Precision Pro System is not designed to diagnose diabetes, but is rather meant for professional use and as an aid in determining and monitoring the effectiveness of various diabetes management programs.

Features of the Precision Pro Monitoring System:

Tests blood ketone and blood glucose levels all with the same system, using the Precision blood ketone test strips and Precision blood glucose test strips.
Simple icon-driving menu helps simplify blood sugar monitoring
Intuitive and simple set-up
Easy-to-view results
Offers the ability to easily scroll back and forth
No coding required
The test strips are neatly wrapped in foil to help prevent errors as a result of contamination

Key features and specifications – Precision Pro Glucose Meter

Easy data entry

Precision Pro Blood Glucose System allows you to choose between the alphanumeric keypad and built-in barcode scanner for data entry according to point-of-care policy. The system can be easily configured to accept operator identification, patient identification, comment code, test strip lot number and two text fields.

Patient ID Confirmation

The system can display useful information about the patient such as the patients name, gender, date of birth, and supporting patient identification procedure. For confirmation, the system can require entry of the patient’s year of birth.

Data integrity

Precision Pro Blood Glucose meter offers many options to ensure that accurate data is collected. These include specifying the maximum and minimum length of the ID, verifying the barcode, restricting the number of barcodes that can be accepted. The system can also require repeated data entry on the keypad especially when you’re not using the barcode scanner. The system also keeps a record of the operator and patient data entry method (manual versus scanned) co help in identification and correction of errors.

Fast, simple testing

To perform tests on the system, you simply need to insert the test strip into the port, apply the sample and wait for results to be displayed. For convenience, the sample can be applied to either the end or top of test strips. The test only starts when the sample applied is adequate. This safeguard is meant to strip wastage, prevent errors, and unnecessary repeat tests.

Automatic calibration

You can automatically calibrate the system by simply scanning the barcode on test strips before use. This also allows the system to check the expiry date to ensure accurate and reliable test results.

QC Lock-out

Users can configure the system to require periodic testing and lock out the systems if tests are not performed using control solutions or if the tests are incomplete. QC tests results are usually displayed as pass or fail only in order to prevent testing while the system is in control test mode.

Operator management

Access to the system can be restricted to authorized or certified operators in order to prevent use by untrained users.

Result Storage

The Precision Pro Blood Glucose and Ketone Monitoring System can store up to 1,000 control test results and 2,500 patient test results. It can also store 2 linearity panels and up to 20 proficiency test results. Moreover, users can automatically upload all stored data to the data management system. This requires an upload cable (optional), docking station (optional), or wirelessly in WiFi (optional) enabled facilities.

Network connectivity

The system can easily upload data wirelessly, via a docking station or cable. This offers an automated and simple way to manage multiple systems.

System components

The Precision Pro Blood Glucose Meter includes the following components:

Meter
Control solutions
Blood glucose test strips

Optional components for use with the system

Blood ketone test strips
Calibration verification controls
Abbot single use lancet
Docking station
Data management system
Carry case
FreeStyle isolation bags
Wireless set-up utility
Data upload cable

In addition to being used by patients to monitor their blood sugar level and the effectiveness of their diabetes management systems, Precision Pro Blood Glucose and Ketone Monitoring System can also be used by doctors and other health care professionals. It is ideal for quantitative measurement of glucose in arterial, neonatal or venous whole blood ketone and blood sugar levels.

However, the sample should be used within 30 minutes upon collection. Precision Pro Blood Glucose Monitoring System is designed to help simplify point-of-care testing for doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. It provides features that improve the reliability and efficiency of the testing process.

Read about the non invasive glucose meter HERE!

OMELON Glucose Monitoring System

Omelon is intended for noninvasive and automatic measurement of blood sugar levels, blood pressure value, and determination of heart rate in both healthy patients and patients with type 2 diabetes. This automatic tonometer and noninvasive glucometer does not require blood sampling making it much easier to monitor and control blood sugar levels.

The process of measuring blood sugar levels is safe, non-traumatic, and absolutely painless. Omelon glucose monitoring system is developed by Russian Scientists and is patented in the United States and Russia. The developers applied the most advanced engineering and manufacturing solutions to ensure that the device significantly improves the user’s health.

Noninvasive Glucometer and Tonometer without test strips

Omelon measures glucose level and blood pressure by analyzing the pulse wave that occurs successively on both hands. The results are presented in digital form on the device’s indicator. Glucose is used as an energy material by vascular cells and muscular tissue.

Depending on the concentration of insulin and glucose in the blood, the vascular tone can change considerably. Omelon determines blood glucose levels based on the analysis of blood pressure, pulse wave, and vascular tone.

How does Omelon Glucose Monitoring System Work?

Omelon is intended for the measurement of diastolic and systolic pressure by indirect oscillometry. The device also measures blood sugar levels and heart rate in a non-invasive manner (without blood sampling) using a compressive cuff fixed on the forearm. The device uses parameters of the pulse wave as an informative signal for indication of the blood sugar level and for measurement of the minimum and maximum pressure.

Scope of application:

For measurement of pulse rate blood sugar level and blood pressure and present these indices on the device’s display:

Ideal for medical supervision in health care as well as health resort institutions
For personal use

For monitoring and controlling blood glucose by patients with type 2 diabetes (insulin-independent) as well as healthy people.
For monitoring and controlling blood glucose by patients with type 2 diabetes administering insulin and patients with type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent).

Omelon glucose monitoring system is designed to help diabetics monitor their blood sugar levels so they can participate more actively in their treatment, control treatment results on a daily basis and improve the quality of their lives. The device is calibrated according to the Somogyi-Nelson method and the lowest levels of biological control. The normal blood glucose value during measurements with this system is 60-100 mg/dl.

Blood glucose level should be tested on an empty stomach or at least 2 hours after food intake. Read the manual and select the scale correctly before the beginning of measurements. It’s also important to sit down and relax for at least 5 minutes before taking your blood glucose measurements.

When comparing measurements with other testing methods, consider which technique or method has been used to calibrate the other device and what blood glucose level is considered normal.

Now it is much easier to monitor and control blood sugar levels. The process of using Omelon to measure blood sugar levels is safe and absolutely painless.

Non Invasive Glucose Meter Wins FDA Approval – read MORE

The Bloodless Glucose Meter

If you are a diabetic and sick and tired of sore fingers and the pain associated with sticking your fingers every time you need to check your blood sugar, the ‘up and coming’ bloodless glucose meter may be just what you need! These sought after meters will very soon be available, in styles like the glucowatch, which is designed to be worn on the wrist.

How Does the Bloodless Glucose Meter Work?

These particular meters work by drawing interstitial fluid through the sweat glands in the skin by using a small electric current. This electric current is so small that the only real discomfort associated with using the device is some possible irritation caused by wearing the device around the wrist or arm, and this is usually no more uncomfortable than wearing a large watch or MP3 player. The bloodless glucose monitor lives up to its name in that it is completely pain-free for most users and represents the newest and best in glucose monitoring technology.

The meters of today are useful tools when it comes to tracking and trending blood glucose levels, especially over a long period of time such as twelve hours. By using the bloodless glucose meter you can have a reading every 20 minutes for up to a 12 hour period and as many as four thousand readings can be stored in memory and viewed at the touch of a button. The bloodless glucose meter can also be set to alert you if your blood sugar gets too high or too low.

Azurite: Developing the Bloodless Glucose Meter

Azurite is a biotech company that is based in San Francisco and was co-founded by Laura Andrews and Kelly Zebrowski. The main aim of this biotech company is to build a non invasive, (or bloodless glucose monitor).

A New approach to Non Invasive Glucose Testing.

Although this goal is quite familiar, Azurite has taken a different and unique approach where the blood glucose level will be measured through an EM (electromagnetic) sensing system. Therefore, the idea is mainly based on the fact that electromagnetic signals bounce off surfaces and return to the source with a pattern that reflects the surface they have encountered.

Just like any other molecules, glucose molecules reflect unique electromagnetic signals based on their electrical properties. Therefore, Azurite also hopes to bounce electromagnetic signals off the glucose molecules in your blood which will return to the device for an interpretation of how much glucose they have encountered.

There are various research groups that have ascertained the blood glucose level successfully by simply observing electrical properties of blood glucose. Moreover, researchers from the University of Missisipi have demonstrated that a micro-strip patch antenna can help determine the blood glucose levels by measuring the electrical properties of the sample. Azurite has drawn from this research and works of other research groups that have examined electrical properties of blood glucose.

Azurite has modeled a fresh approach that will hopefully lead to a non invasive glucose monitoring device that uses electromagnetic technology to measure electrical properties remotely. Moreover the company is determined to make an impact on diabetics by creating a device that combines convenience and the rich data of accurate continuous testing.

Newest Technologies for Bloodless Glucose Meter

Although there are various technologies being used to develop non invasive testing devices including florescent technology, electromagnetic sensing, mid-infrared spectroscopy and ultrasound technology among other technologies, not all have received FDA approval yet. However, the GlucoTrack has already received the CE Mark approval for use in the EU (European Union).

This type of technology is brand new, but definitely does have a secure place in the proper management of diabetes.

Read on here for more info on the bloodless glucose meter.

Latest News for the Non Invasive Glucose Monitor

Non Invasive Glucose Monitor

Finally there’s great news with regards to the much sought after non invasive glucose monitor for diabetics. This method of measuring blood glucose levels has been the goal of many different companies over the years, some receiving the CE mark, but none have yet to be marketed.

The non-invasive GlucoTrack

The latest developments with the GlucoTrack model DF-F glucose meter from Integrity Applications, uses 3 different technologies to measure blood glucose levels accurately.

Ultrasonic
Electromagnetic and
Heat capacity. (thermal)

This device consists of a main unit, which is battery operated – a transmitter, receiver and processor and a Personal Ear Clip which attaches to the earlobe. The GlucoTrack non invasive glucose monitor has a USB port to download your personal information and blood glucose levels to your computer, or other storage device, for analysis by you or your diabetes management team.

Even if you need to monitor your blood 5 or 6 times a day, it’s as easy as just clipping the earpiece to your ear and the levels are displayed on the screen, or announced verbally to you within a minute! As easy as that. No more continuous finger pricking to draw blood for testing!

Can I track more than one persons levels on the same meter?

Yes, the main unit of the GlucoTrack meter (model DF-F) can support 3 different users. You will just need a separate PEC (Personal Ear Clip) for each user, as it has to calibrate individually. There are no disposables required for the GlucoTrack, however it is necessary to replace the Personal Ear Clip approximately every 6 months to ensure the accuracy of the measurements.

This meter will alert you ahead of time when it’s necessary to replace the PEC. Integrity Applications has received the CE Mark which allows them to Market and sell the GlucoTrack Meter in European Union, and it is expected to be available for sale to the general public in a few countries during 2014. Check this website regularly for more updates on its availability.

GluCall Non invasive Glucose Monitor

GluCall blood glucose meters, are another prototype that we could be seeing on the market in the not too distant future. GluCall is another painless method of measuring glucose levels, it is worn like a wristwatch and has the ability to give continuous blood glucose readings via the skin. The GluCall also has the capacity to store data for use by your diabetes management team.

C8 Non-invasive Optical Glucose Monitor

This is yet another non invasive glucose monitor that will hopefully hit the open market soon. It uses the power of light, to measure your levels – a painless pulse of light is transmitted into the skin to monitor your levels continuously. The C8 Medisensors have a great battery life, which is always an advantage, getting you through a full day of monitoring.

Included are multiple adaptors, for various EU countries
USB capabilities, to recharge via your computer
Uses Bluetooth technology connecting your smartphone to C8 Medisensors glucose monitors!

Gluco (M) – Monitors sugar levels using Electric Flow

Another design concept that I’m personally looking out for, very sleek looking monitor, worn on the wrist like a bracelet. It works by tracking your glucose levels through your bodily fluids, using an electric flow.

Also stores data and previous readings
Has the capacity to store insulin cartridges in a small built in chamber.

Definitely be watching closely for this model to come onto the market!

Echo Therapeutics Non Invasive Glucose Monitor

The ‘Symphony’ is another innovative idea to make life just a bit easier for diabetics. Developed mainly to target the hospital and critical care patients requiring constant blood glucose monitoring. We at Diabetes Healthy Solutions, will keep a close eye on all further developments regarding all the Non Invasive Glucose Monitors mentioned here, let’s all hope we start to see some on the market very soon for all of us to benefit from!

Read on for more info about the best blood glucose meters HERE!