Software For Diabetics: In the past, patients with diabetes put all their data in individual journals. The patients then referred to their journals if they wanted to arrive at a way to make sense of that data. The goal of diabetic software is not the elimination of journals. The goal of those who develop diabetic software is the better management of accumulated data.
Diabetic software gives to the patient with diabetes a valuable tool. By using that tool, the diabetic can more easily assess the degree to which a diabetes management plan has aided the control of diabetes. Based on that assessment, the diabetic can modify that plan.
Some of the software for diabetes comes in a box. Other software can be downloaded from various websites. This article will take a look at both types of software. It will seek to help diabetics contact the group or person that can furnish them with such software.
Diabetes Works for Windows has gained popularity among diabetics. Patients with diabetes have found that it is a useful software tool. It allows the diabetic to design a diabetes control regimen by using computer guidance.. Diabetes Works contains data from a clinical trail of insulin, a trial once conducted by researchers at Eli Lilly.
The software package in Diabetes Works guides the diabetic by comparing the available data with data entered by the software user. The patient with diabetes gives the program information on glucose readings, insulin dosages, amount of carbohydrates consumed and amount of time spent exercising. Using that information, the software program then develops and displays a spreadsheet. By viewing that spreadsheet, a patient with diabetes can proceed with evaluation of his or her diabetes management plan.
A competing software package has appeared on the shelves of computer stores. It is called BD Diabetes. An important feature of BD Diabetes is its speed. The diabetic patient who has BD software can download charts, view charts and print charts with a single click of the mouse. The software also includes a guide. By using that guide, the patient with diabetes can better interpret the significance of the charted information.
A diabetic who would like to purchase the BD software should call this number: 1-888-232-2737. Diabetics who have access to the Internet are not restricted to the use of such boxed programs. They can search online for useful software.
Sometimes a person with diabetes knows a good deal about the development of a computer program. Sometimes a person with diabetes has a spouse who knows how to put together a program that can be used for the management of accumulated data. In either case, such software can be of benefit to all diabetics. Therefore, a number of websites have invited computer users (those with diabetes) to download such software.
Kenneth A. Corrasco has developed a spreadsheet that suits any diabetic who conducts glucose testing between 10 to 12 times per day. Like the program in Diabetes Works, the Corrasco spreadsheet requires the input of information on glucose readings, insulin dosages, carbohydrate ingestion and exercise. In addition, the Corrasco spreadsheet has space for the daily hours of sleep, the patient’s blood pressure and the patient’s weight.
The opportunity to input more data hands to the diabetic patient a more useful software tool. The placement of more data in the spreadsheet more clearly reveals how an existing life style might contribute to or hinder control of the patient’s diabetes, The Corrasco spreadsheet is available at www.medaca.com/corrasco_BG_form8ls.
Steven Goldsmith wrote a computer program for his wife, another of the many diabetics. Goldsmith realized that not every diabetic uses the same type of meter for testing his or her glucose level With that fact in mind, Goldsmith designed a way for a diabetic to upload testing data from many different meters—AccuChek, Ascensia, BD, HomeDiagnostics, LifeScan, MediSense and ThermaSense.
Goldsmith also added to his software space for the input of another piece of data. A diabetic patient using the Goldsmith software can enter information on any medication that he or she might have taken. To download the Goldsmith program, patients with diabetes should go to www.best4diabetes.com/Welcome.isp.
Mike Baesalager is another programmer who used his skills to develop software that could be used for creation of a diabetes management plan. His software aids the tracking of changes in blood glucose. It also allows for input of information on the administration of both regular and long lasting insulin. In addition, it has space for the input of data related to the diet. This software can be downloaded from www.dia-log.com.
Now at the beginning of this article, reference was made to the journals kept by diabetic patients. At one time, the journal of a diabetic patient was the only place where he or she could keep all the figures from the many required blood glucose tests. That is no longer the case. Now a diabetic can store his or her data at an online site. Software available at www.glucoweb.net has been designed to store electronic data.
Of course the storage of data does not necessarily guarantee the ability to interpret that data. For that reason, the creators of this data-storing software have added to it a special feature. It includes an instructional guide. By using that guide, a patient with diabetes can gain the knowledge that he or she needs for interpretation of any stored data.
Additional tools for the interpretation of data can be found among the boxed software kits. One such kit has been put out by USS Publishing. That kit facilitates the weekly tracking of data from a diabetes management plan. It includes space of all sorts of important data.
Information on foot care, eye care and dental care can be supplied to the USS software. Data relating to weight loss and A1C levels can also be analyzed by this boxed software. The availability of so much information allows for the development of a well-founded diabetes management plan. A patient with diabetes might thus want to set aside funds for the purchase of such software.
