A Bolus Bonus

The iPhone is taking a seat at the dinner table.

Studies done with people with type 1 diabetes using automated bolus calculators (ABC’s) which are available in a number of glucose meters (Accu-Chek®, Aviva Expert®, and FreeStyle Insulux® are just a few) have proven effective in preventing hypoglycemia. Those using insulin pumps probably have the ABC already integrated into their devices.

But now, (cliché alert), there’s an app for that.

Currently, there are 84 different insulin calculator apps available on iTunes and all are designed to assist in helping find the correct bolus (insulin needed for a specific meal).
In a general sense, they all work the same way with a setup for customizing the carbohydrate-to-insulin ratio, total carbohydrates in the meal, along with current and target glucose levels.

The new technology is being looked at as a way to improve an unsettling statistic: Only 30 percent of all people with diabetes who are taking medication-pills and/or insulin-are able to hit targeted glucose levels. There is a lot of new technology in use: Between 2011 and 2012, the number of downloaded health-related apps more than doubled, from 127 million to 247 million.

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