3 min read | Posted on October 30, 2019
Recent statistics show that over 30 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes. While the signs and symptoms of the disease haven’t changed, technological advances have modified how you can manage and monitor your diabetes.
Health and Fitness Aids
There are a variety of factors that may cause diabetes, but some issues that put you at risk are poor eating habits, obesity and not getting enough exercise. To that end, doctors usually recommend that diabetics pay careful attention to what they eat and try to lose weight. Along with adjusting your diet and increasing your physical activity, consider adding a safe weight loss supplement to your routine to make sure you’re not neglecting your nutrition needs.
Fitness tracker apps are a great way to keep records of what you eat and how much physical activity you’ve had. Some of these apps provide workouts or music to boost your motivation. Using smartwatches like the Apple Watch Series 4 or the Galaxy Watch Active can also help you stay on top of your fitness goals. These devices have safety features such as an optical heart rate sensor with real-time data, electrocardiogram (ECG) generation, and the Apple Watch also offers fall detection and low heart rate alerts.
Helpful Reminders
The list of medications that are available for diabetics is a long one, and the frequency with which you should take them may vary. To reduce the risk of forgetting to take medication or getting out of sync with your medication schedule, you could use a medication reminder app. These apps will remind you of which pills to take and when and will help you keep track of what you have taken. Apps like Medisafe act as a reminder but also allow you to include important information about the medication such as what it looks like and what you’re taking it for, while Pill Reminder can be used for more than one person and offers the opportunity to note the side effects of the medications.
Self-Monitoring Aids
Part of the daily life of a diabetic is performing self-monitoring checks on their blood glucose level. While there is no set number for how often the tests are performed, it’s estimated that the average is about four times. If you’re looking for affordable blood glucose meters, why not consider getting one that links to an app on your smartphone either by Bluetooth or a USB cable? One of these apps suggested by Healthline would work well with that kind of meter as you can record your results and also track the readings over time. An app like MySugr records results, reminds you of important times to check your blood sugar level–such as after a workout–and allows you to send reports to your doctor so changes can be made to your healthcare regime if necessary. Apps like BG Monitor Diabetes will also help you track foods that affect your blood glucose level.
Medication Dispensers
According to Family Doctor, diabetics may need to inject insulin as much as four times a day depending on the type of diabetes they have. While it’s necessary, it might not be easy if you don’t like needles or have difficulty fitting it into your daily schedule. In some cases, an insulin pump is a better option. These devices give you the advantage of receiving your insulin doses without having to inject yourself. Using a pump, however, means you’ll have to remain vigilant as you’ll need to check your blood glucose levels more often and make sure the device hasn’t become dislodged. If you’re interested, talk to your health insurance provider and make sure to shop around so you find the right one for you.
Technology has come a long way in the past few years, so make sure you survey what’s out there to help you maintain your health while managing your diabetes. With some preparation, you can ensure you’re able to live your best life while keeping your health in check.
Written by Justin Bennett, HealthyFit.info. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.