What is the best iPhone App for recording blood glucose test results, medications, carbs, exercise, etc? I currently use GlucoseBuddy, but find the necessity of individually syncing each log entry to be annoyingly time consuming. In addition, despite the log entries, the only category that actually charts trends is blood glucose. However, the App Store comments for the other applications are even more negative, except for Track3. I’m interested in the experience others have had with different Apps.
I am using vree TDM2. I like a lot of things about the Prodoct. It tracks meds, exercise, cheking glucose, weight and calories. I wish it backed up somewhere and also had more options of exporting data.
Couldn’t find this in the App Store. Where did you get it?
Thank you for the suggestions. I had missed BloosWise but it looks like a good choice as well.
I’ve used WaveSense, I’m still waiting for someone to mate the iPhone’s bluetooth with a bluetooth meter and publish a corresponding app, the data entry is a real pain. I just got a CGM and have been using carelink - even though it’s UI and computer limitations stink (I’m on a Mac), the data entry is automatic.
Thank you. I note one of the reviewers prefers it to the App I’m using.
Hi Sue -
I use Glucose Buddy as well, but am also no crazy about the way it lists the individual items in the log. I only use it for food and activity, preferring to just upload the pump info with all glucose and bolus wizard details into to Carelink (using a Mac with boot camp to run access carelink for upload). I then merge the data like this, http://longesturinal.com/diabetes/DanWoodtoSEPT7.pdf , (on a web app a friend created), or using Glucose Surfer (http://www.glucosurfer.org). If you have an Iphone as opposed to an ipod touch like me, Glucose Surfer may be the way to go as you can upload all of the pump details via carelink, or log your glucose, food, and activity on the go. They have a great graph that puts all of the info, including your basal profile, into one screen. You can see this link for a sample of my last two weeks,
http://www.glucosurfer.org/SMOsuite.dll?gotodiagram&language=en…
(you can set a sharing link up, that will keep your name and info anonymous…)
My doctors prefer the first graph, so I have to stick with that for them, but I like the glucose surfer format the best…
Good luck!
-dan
Thanks for the head’s up on Glucose Surfer. Looking at the website it seems that it’s not quite ready for the iPhone yet, but as soon as it is I’m ON it!!
The major drawback, for me, for all BG tracking software on the iPhone is the need to manually enter data that’s already been recorded in my meter or pump. A paper log is just as good and easier to use even though you don’t get the neat-o, keen-o charts and graphs. The paper log is still useful for spotting patterns and trends.
Terry
Hey Terry, et al -
The folks who made Glucosurfer created an import filter so it can import both the Carelink files, as well as glucose buddy files if save as a csv from your email. No re-entry of data! But I forgot it does not have a stand alone Iphone app, although I believe you can still access it via the iphone? I use it on the desktop to check things out.
I am a software engineer and I am working on an application on the android to track most vitals and figure out how to transfer in and out of the phone from meters to pcs and have an e-mail functionality where you can take any chart or reading and send it from the phone and import my numbers through a file that you can text to yourself and then import that right in to the phone app. if i can make it work on the android I would think it would be an easy conversition into the iphone. I think what may make this app better than what is out there is that maybe a group of peope from tudiabetes can come up with the best features that would be needed to make an app great. It seems that these apps are written by people who dont have to manage diabetes. I think if we can survey our people who use these app here we can come up with a better app that is written to real world requirements
Unfortunately, I have to agree with everyone that there really hasn’t been an app that would record all the info I want in one place. For a lot of daily info, I still use a paper log, as I like to track carbs…but also fat, protein, and calories. I love the loseit! app (obviously for weight loss) for keeping track of food. I can make meals/recipies in it by entering ingredients myself or searching the usda db through the app. Once I have eaten something once, it is easily for me to find it the next time, so I don’t have to think about how many carbs are in something more than one time.
Julie, you’ve described the problem perfectly. GlucoseBuddy has a “food” log that’s really for recording carbs, but there’s no reference to learn carb values. Like you, I began using LoseIt for a carb reference as well as exercise values (GlucoseBuddy lists only minutes, not intensity) and was impressed that it’s so easy: it remembers values so you don’t have to re-enter and it syncs automatically. LoseIt’s graphs are clear and easy to read as well, unlike GlucoseBuddy’s which make no sense at all. The insulin averages bear no relation to amount I inject. If only LoseIt recorded glucose and insulin!
Dan, I looked at Glucosurfer as well but found the print so small on the Analysis screen that it was unreadable. Also, it’s not clear to me what the “Formula” refers to. What’s “Rapid =/- and correction”? What’s “Levemir and waittime”? Perhaps this geared to people who use pumps. However you’re so enthusiastic that I’d like to give it a try.
I’ve used Glucose Buddy in the past. I haven’t liked the new user interface where you must select separate foods and enter carbs for each one, nor how it doesn’t group them all together as, say, “lunch” but separates them all out. (I have a review of Glucose Buddy on my blog, which you can link to in my profile. Out of the free apps I think Glucose Buddy is the best (though there are several here I haven’t heard of that I’ll check out).
I’m now using Diabetes Pilot which is the closest I have found to perfect. It has a built-in food database which can be edited or added to, and best of all allows you to group foods together as entire meals so that you can just select one thing for meals you eat often. It also has a quick entry screen for quickly entering just carbs or other nutritional information if it’s something not listed in the database. I also like how it can sync over wi-fi with the desktop app–meaning information you enter on the desktop is sent to the iPhone and vice versa. It’s a bit pricey ($11 for the iPhone app, $40 for the desktop application), but to me it’s worth it. I haven’t actually bought the desktop program yet, I’ve just been using the trial version for now, but I will probably buy it when the trail ends. Diabetes Pilot can also show some limited data analysis on the phone itself (such as a graph of readings, averages, etc.) and offers very extensive features on the desktop version. I also like that it can track weight and blood pressure as these are both things I track and it’s nice to be able to do it in one place rather than using several different iPhone apps like I was before. On the desktop version you are also able to search through notes, so I’ve been using the notes as sort of like tags and then searching them. Really, I wish someone would make an app that used tags (as well as the usual time of day categories) so that if it’s a night I’m eating at Boston Pizza or if I have ketones or whatever I can tag it.
On the subject of the ideal iPhone app, personally I don’t need to record any food information other than carb intake.
What would be perfect for me would be to put the Carelink functions on the iPhone. I open the iPhone Carelink App - it syncs with my meter/pump/cgm, whichever, and allows me to create reports or graphs that i can export to my computer or email to anybody I want. Alternatively, it could sync the data to a companion app on my PC from which I would create the reports and graphs. Short of that, it would export the data in CSV format to my computer.
It does not need a food database, a place to record exercise or events, a journal or a place for any other data other than what is already on my meter/pump or CGM.
Terry
Another option would be for my meter readings to go directly to my iPhone as they now go to my pump.
Agreed! 
… and the perfect app would do this with ALL meters/pumps/CGMS and not just a single brand. I don’t use a CGMS yet, but I use a pump and meter that can’t communicate with one another and are not wireless, and it would be nice if all these devices could work with one program and (in future) be wireless so I didn’t need to manually enter data. Combining that with the ability to tag entries and add notes to them, and you’d have the perfect system.
Hello Sue, the Formula shows how the recommended Bolus has been calculated. This is the number of Carbs divided by the Carbs per Insulin taken from your Settings. The +/- shows adjustments of the Bolus necessary for special conditions. If you are to high you will find the recommended additional dosage for correction there. If you are too low or about to have a higher physical activity the system will recommend to lower the dosage thus the value will be negative. The summary of Bolus for carbs plus the Correction is the recommended dosage to apply. The Levemir is a long acting insulin. Pumper will not be asked for this insulin. You are only seeing that in the example page for the iPhone. The waiting time is the time between injection and carb intake if there is a waiting time necessary for example with a very high blood glucose. The diagrams can be learned easier on the computer screen I must admit. If their meaning is clear the interpretation on the smaller iPhone screen is much easier.
Thank you for explaining. From your explanation I had thought that Glucosurfer might be only for people who used a pump. However now that I’ve looked at the website I see that it is for conventional therapy as well, although syringes, the most common delivery device in the US, are not listed along with all the pens. I will give it a try. Thanks.