As the aging population grows all around the world, the diseases more common among older adults become a more serious issue, including cardiovascular illnesses and diabetes. According to the latest studies and statistics, about 33 percent of seniors over 65 currently have diabetes. Imagine the population of seniors worldwide to notice that 33 percent actually means millions of diabetic people! It’s a huge number indeed! Diabetic people are also more at risk for complications like kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). And it does not end there! Sometimes a diabetic senior may have a coexisting health condition that impacts diabetes and may make the situation even more challenging and complicated, like cognitive impairment or cardiovascular issues.
Although there is still no cure for diabetes, you can control it almost to a large extent and lower its complications and possible dangers. Various mobile applications can help you manage your diabetes and make all these things much more manageable.
Keep reading to get to know the best apps for diabetic seniors.
Hundreds of apps are on the market, making it easier for people with diabetes to manage and control prediabetes and type 1 or 2 diabetes. But do all of them suit seniors and their needs? Certainly not.
To choose the most functional and helpful app to control diabetes, you have to look for the following features:
As a person with diabetes, you must track everything, including carbs intake, blood glucose levels, and physical activities. You must also take your medications and pills on time and follow a nutritious low-carb diet. So you have multiple things to worry about, and it’s complicated enough without having to look for numerous apps for every single purpose! Install an app that offers more features; the more, the better!
Simplicity is what matters when it comes to senior users. They might not be very familiar with mobile applications, and even a full-featured app doesn’t suit them if it’s tricky to use! So it’s better to read the reviews to find out whether the app is senior-friendly; you don’t want to have more daily complexity by using an app that feels like a confusing maze.
Most diabetic people use other devices to track their health, like, smartwatches, glucose meters, or insulin pumps. So it would be great if your chosen app could sync with other devices. It makes the monitoring process much easier and more accurate.
Following up, you can read about the top 5 diabetes apps for seniors and find the best one that suits your needs and requirements.
Our first app is an award-winning application with FDA approval, taking it one step ahead of every other diabetes app. This app is free, and Android and iOS users can use its features and 24/7 services. It doesn’t matter if you have diabetes type 1 or two; BlueStar Diabetes offers a variety of helpful tools for both types of patients.
BlueStar Diabetes users can set reminders for their medications, track their blood sugar level, receive a customized meal plan, access certified diabetes educators, and ask for help or advice 24/7.
Despite being free, this app is only available by prescription, and you need to input an access code of a health employer or health plan.
Glucose Buddy is a very comprehensive and helpful iPhone app that syncs with glucometer devices and the apple health app, making it super easy to track your meals, exercises, and blood sugar level. It is also a user-friendly app with a simple and modern design so seniors can use it without specific challenges.
Basic features on Glucose Buddy are free, but users need to pay the monthly subscription fee ($15 to $60 based on the premium services they choose) to use premium features. The Premium version includes ad-free and customizable experiences, including diabetes coaching services, reports of your performance, smart glucose meters, complimentary test strips, and an A1C calculator.
This app is available for both iOS and Android users with features including test time reminders, a nutritional log and tracking system, integrations with fitness apps, and blood sugar trend mapping. This is the app you need if you use tablets instead of mobile phones.
Most of the Diabetes: M features are free, but if you want to create more than one account in this app, you need to purchase the subscription service.
It’s an android app that allows users to track and view detailed blood glucose data, tag it so they can effortlessly review it later, and share it with their doctor in an emergency. If you’re looking for a straightforward glucose tracking app and nothing extra, give this app a try.
Dealing with diabetes and taking care of your medications and diet sometimes proves overwhelming, especially for seniors who live alone. Using diabetes apps and passing some responsibilities to them could bring you more peace of mind.
Which app did you find more helpful?! Please share your opinions in the comment section.