I’ve been reading lots lately about medical apps … and I’ve tried a few … and I’m using a few. Perhaps we should take a look at what’s actually going on in the health apps arena.
My questions for you:
- What apps are you using?
- What do you like about them? What do you dislike?
- What would you like to see in the next gen diabetes apps?
A few weeks back, I reported (in Savvy Updates 3.27.2017) on an interview by McKinsey & Company with 2 executives from MySugr, an app designed for diabetes management. Then I did a DiabetesMine Test Kitchen video review of One Drop, the newest blood glucose meter on the market with a substantial diabetes app to help you manage your health and also feel connected to others in the diabetes community.
Right now, apps just seem to take more of my time and add more tasks to managing diabetes. But I’m betting that it will get better and easier, with better connectivity, better power options.
There are so many apps out there that is can be confusing and a bit overwhelming. But useful. I use some apps, like MyFitnessPal, sporadically and mostly when I want to really know what my food intake is or if I need to be motivated. Lately, since I’m running a closed loop, I use Loop, Dexcom mobile app, Clarity , Dario when I’m out and about and use their very handy meter/strips/lancer all-in-one. I use Nightscout and Tidepool Blip to collect my data from all sources (used to use Glooko and before that, Diasend). I use Apple Health as well as Fitbit.
I’m sure, before the day is done, I’ll be hearing about a new app. Ooops, there you go! As reported in iMedicalApps of MedPage Today, 3 April 2017, a recent study published in the Journal of Aging and Health showed that Omada’s digital diabetes management programs helped those on Medicare to reduce their risk of diabetes with the mHealth digital coaching app. Omada, a San Francisco based company uses an online and mobile platform to help the approximately 86 million people in the US with prediabetes) … and Omada was one of the first digital apps to receive reimbursement from the federal government. In fact, an innovative project involving the American Medical Association, Omada Health and Intermountain Healthcare, announced in July 2016, is aimed at reducing the growing number of adults who develop Type 2 diabetes. Their technology uses personal behavioral and scientific data to help users avoid diabetes, utilizing diet “gamification,” a wireless scale, community support and a dedicated health coach … all of which is designed to provide users with accountability and insight.
Read more:
- iMedicalApps: Can an App Reduce the Risk of Diabetes?
- AMA, Omada Health, Intermountain Healthcare Partner to Reduce Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes
- Outcomes of a Digital Health Program With Human Coaching for Diabetes Risk Reduction in a Medicare Population
So here’s my AHA moment. Apps and digital health data … and ultimately remote medical care and more artificially intelligent devices and health care providers are our future.
