According to recent clinical studies, blood sugar levels change differently in different people, even if they eat the same standardized meal. This phenomenon makes it hard to find a diabetes eating plan that works for everyone.
For example, because patients are taking insulin, they require snacks rich in carbohydrates at specific times every day. However, their partners, who are also diabetic, have a more flexible eating schedule, since they are not on insulin.
Patients plan their calories, count the carbs, and exercise to maintain their ideal body weight. Those with diabetes and high BMI are more prone to other co-morbidities, such as gallstone disease, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, imbalance of lipids, chronic kidney disease, etc.
Their diet is high in fiber and low in processed foods. One of the best foods to have, especially in their case, is steamed, roasted, or raw veggies, paired with some whole grains, protein, and a little fat. To give their salads a good boost, they mix them up with chard, spinach, and kale. To add some flavor, they also like to use some berries.
With tech-enabled approaches, patients can get personalized and precise nutrition guides that are more practical for treating diabetes on an individual level. Technology advancements and big data make it possible to integrate multiple factors into personalized nutrition and food interventions. Such as tailoring the treatment based on their genes, cultural background, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity.
Here are a couple of apps and tools that can simplify their routine.
A smart insulin pen is a reusable device that allows diabetes patients to inject insulin. It is designed to keep tabs on the amount and timing of each injection. This information can be sent to a mobile app on their phone.
About 80% of type 1 diabetics, including many patients, follow a treatment plan called basal-bolus regime. They need multiple injections a day, and many of them prefer insulin pens rather than syringes due to their better consistency and dosing accuracy.
Take the Medtronic InPen, for example. This is a smart insulin pen that comes with a built-in Bluetooth connection. It transfers data to a companion app, providing carb-counting support and recording meal history, current glucose levels, and other information in a digital logbook. Diabetes Patients can then share this data with their doctor.
Research suggests that combining smart pens with a Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) device can help uncover instances where patients are not following their insulin treatment plans. This technology assists doctors in creating personalized treatment strategies and educating patients on how to address these issues.
People with diabetes may occasionally miss a dose of basal insulin before bedtime, causing their glucose levels to spike. To compensate, they may have administered multiple short-acting insulin doses within a short time frame of two hours, a response to hyperglycemia known as insulin stacking, which can lead to episodes of low blood sugar.
The CGM device and smart pens provide doctors with detailed insights into the insulin doses patients are taking, enabling them to tailor treatment and dietary recommendations to their needs.
There are plenty of meal-planning apps that make it simple for patients to cook diabetic-friendly meals. When they have no idea what to eat or want to try new recipes, they can turn to apps like Klinio. These apps help them stay on track with the diet prescribed by their dietitian.
Of course, an app can't replace professional advice. It can only accommodate patients' current healthcare goals and help them visually track their progress. Whether patients are learning complex or simple concepts, visualization aids in better understanding data, regardless of their level of expertise.
Apps serve as a helpful tool for anyone feeling stressed about finding the right diabetes recipes and needing a personalized meal plan with an expanding library. Patients often use apps as a tracking tool for logging their blood sugar, HbA1c levels, medications, weight, etc.
According to experts, mobile medical technology actively assists in clinical treatment and health management by intelligently applying various tools. This technology enables doctors to gain a deeper understanding of patients' daily blood glucose levels, offering guidance for personalized diabetes management. Ultimately, technology-enabled approaches can enhance the effectiveness of managing the disease.
Previous studies have shown a strong correlation between the use of mobile apps for diabetes and improvements in patient self-confidence and metabolic indicators. Integrating app interventions optimizes medical resources and allows for increased time dedicated to patient education.
While health apps today can recommend meals, and fitness plans, and simplify meal planning, there is a growing interest in tapping into the trend of food as medicine. Fitness trackers and smartwatches play a significant role in promoting nutrition, personal health, and a high level of care.
Certain wearable devices can record health markers and changes in metabolism in real time. They help patients keep a close eye on their glucose and activity levels, enabling them to tailor their diabetes treatment accordingly. This, in turn, saves patients time and money.
Many wearables, such as the Apple Watch Series 8, feature sleep tracking. Lack of sleep has a detrimental impact on every aspect of diabetes management, affecting patients' food intake, food choices, insulin response, and mental well-being. Wearables help patients stay on top of their game by providing all the necessary information to keep their condition stable.
Technological advancements have brought a transformative impact on diabetes management. Options like smart insulin pens, meal-planning apps, and wearable devices can help us get better control over our condition.
These devices consider our unique requirements, lifestyles, and preferences. This makes personalized nutrition more efficient and accessible. As technology continues to evolve, we can only expect better and more advanced tech-enabled products to hit the market.