Black and Diabetic? There’s an App for That

Its no secret that diabetes is a major illness among African-American people. According to the American Diabetes Association 4.9 million, or 18.7% of all African-Americans 20 years or older suffer from diabetes. The shocking news is that diabetes is 60% more common in African-Americans than in white Americans. African-Americans are twice as likely to suffer an amputation and five times more likely to suffer kidney disease than other people with diabetes. It doesn’t stop there; African Americans are almost 50% more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy leading to blindness than other races. We have a health emergency in the black community and we need to use every tool at our disposal to conquer this illness.

Its nice to have a smartphone but we need to learn to do more with the technology than talk, text and post tweets and images on some social media site. We need to learn to use technology to confront, manage and eventually eliminate the problems that plague black people.

Odds are that you know someone with diabetes; maybe yourself or a relative. And I bet you or that person have a nice smartphone. There are apps available for both Android and iPhone that are designed to help monitor and control diabetes. Its time black people learn how to use that technology to effectively manage and control diabetes. I strongly urge you to investigate the best of these apps listed below to help yourself or someone you love.

Fooducate – Available free on Android and iPhone. Managing diabetes is about managing your diet. The task reaches beyond just counting calories and watching your weight. Black people suffering with this disease need to focus on whats in their food. Ingredients matter. Fooducate can show you which foods are high in sugar, fats and other unnecessary ingredients. The app scans bar codes on the products you buy and helps you decide what packaged food you should or should not eat. You can upgrade your account to the premium level and add in specifics about your personal health and health goals. Additional features with the upgrade include tips and information about gluten and allergies.

Glooko – Available free on Android and iPhone.  With Glooko you can upload your glucose readings directly from your meter. This creates an accurate record of your numbers that are  available to you at all times. You can review these statistics broken down into a graph. The data allows you and your doctor to easily track data. Glooko also offers a food database with information about the food you eat. Using this app helps you keep track of your diet, exercise routine, and medications. Finally all this information can be synced and viewed online.

Diabetic Audio Recipes Lite – Available free only on Android.  Cooking with this app you will learn to make dishes such as baked or grilled seafood with various sauces and flavorings. You don’t have to be bored with your food.  In addition you can learn all about your meal and its nutritional makeup. The app also offers an excellent library of low-fat, low-sugar recipes that expand constantly because users can submit their own recipes. You can also find recipes for appetizers, main dishes, side dishes and desserts. Other features of this app include adjustable font size, and audio capability so you can cook and listen at the same time.

But let’s be real for a second; for black people food is an extension of our identity. But because of diabetes some black people can’t always enjoy the ethnic food we so love. But the situation is not hopeless. You can find excellent soul food recipes for diabetics online. And Amazon has the New Soul Food Cook Book for People with Diabetes. You can also search online. Here’s a suggestion; search “Soul food for diabetics.”

Diabetic Connect – Available free on Android and iPhone. Living with diabetes can be a tough life. And few people really understand except other diabetics. Diabetic Connect brings diabetic patients together so they can talk, share tips, and learn together. Its an ideal social media for making personal connections with other diabetics and to find and offer support.Users can engage in conversations by following the activity feeds. You can learn what others think of the latest diabetes treatments and management techniques. 

Being black and diabetic has its own special challenges. But never believe you are alone. The Internet is meant to bring people together and share. There are ways to connect with black diabetics at the African American Health With a Focus on Diabetes, Hypertension and Stress Facebook page. You can also visit blackdiabeticinfo.com.

Glucose Buddy – Available free on Android and iPhone. A frequent task of most diabetics is the sampling of the blood. Its called blood monitoring. Making it easier to log and track those numbers means you can do it properly and at the right time. Glucose Buddy allows the user to store those numbers with minimal effort. This app helps reduce forgetfulness when it comes to recording your numbers by reminding you with notifications. Glucose Buddy allows you to log your glucose numbers, insulin dosages, and your carb intake at each meal. You can also keep track of exercise, blood pressure and weight. The information can be synced and viewed online.

Diabetes App – Available free only on iPhone.  The questions are ones that have to be asked when you are a diabetic. How much sugar was in that donut? The Diabetes App has the answer. This is no trivial matter for people living with diabetes. This app keeps track of the things that have an affect on your blood sugar levels. Knowing and understanding this can make a difference and help the user make informed choices about diet and treatment. The app contains a calendar allowing you a quick overview of your important health information. The food database works even when you’re not online and you can track your weight, blood pressure, water intake, and more. The app is versatile allowing the user to back up data, share information via Twitter, and offers passcode protection for security.

OnTrack Diabetes – Available free only on Android.   Would you like to know your average blood glucose levels for the month? How about a gentle reminder to test your blood or take your medications? How about sharing this information with your physician? OnTrack Diabetes is the app that can do these things and more. The app claims an easy to use layout and makes this information easy to access.

dbees.com – Available free on Android and iPhone.  Some doctors believe that diabetes isn’t a single disease. It can be defined as a group of metabolic diseases. People with diabetes have a lot in common, especially black people. But there are things about the disease that are very individual. The dbees.com app gives you personal freedom to manage your condition. dbees.com helps you manage your insulin, insulin pump, medications, and diet. The design of the app allows you to track your diabetes while managing a busy life. You can program reminders and access your data online and share the information with your doctor.

Glucool Diabetes – Living a normal life is the objective to managing diabetes. Glucool Diabetes offers a versatile app that lets you live that normal life. The versatile Glucool Diabetes app lets you customize diabetes management to fit your lifestyle. Add your insulin, carbs, and personalized notes quickly and efficiently. You’ll no longer have to rely on memory when you visit the doctor. The app allows you to back up and restore your data, so you don’t have to worry about losing all your records. The app also offers nice graphing options allowing the user to focus on problems and discover where things got out of whack. A continuous record of your blood glucose levels, blood pressure, dietary intake, and medications can assist you and your doctor in evaluating and diagnosing problems. This helps you and your physician make important healthcare decisions confidently.

Diagnosing and treating diabetes is a partnership between you and your doctor. Living a normal, healthy and enjoyable life is completely possible. But you have to work with your doctor and for yourself. That means you have to use the knowledge and technology available to you. They don’t call it a smartphone for nothing.

Now you know