According to recent figures released by the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes has increased in prevalence fourfold in just a quarter of a century. What’s more, it’s recognized as the direct cause of 1.6 million deaths in 2016, with another 2.2 million attributed to high blood sugar just four years prior. There’s little doubt, therefore, that diabetes is one disease that should not be underestimated. Thankfully, the disease is far from a death sentence; in fact, it’s manageable enough that many diabetics actually live long and full lives with the condition. This has been made even easier of late thanks to modern technology, which has proven to be a godsend in coping with the disease. Let us count the ways how.
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Keeps You Accountable
How successfully you can manage diabetes relies heavily on your lifestyle choices. The cornerstone of which is, no doubt, an active lifestyle. Indeed, much has been said about the role of exercise in mitigating the effects of diabetes — that is to say, lowering blood glucose levels and insulin resistance, which allows the body to use both glucose and insulin more effectively.
Despite this knowledge, there is still the challenge of getting into the habit of exercise. For many, technology like smartwatches and fitness trackers have been more than instrumental in making this happen. One device worthy of mention is the Apple Watch Series 4, which comes loaded with awesome fitness features and integrates with a number of fitness apps, making it easier to track physical activity as well as keeping your accountability in check. Moreover, it’s also embedded with several health monitoring capabilities, including an electrocardiogram (ECG) and heart rate monitor, and can detect falls and make emergency SOS calls.
Alternatively, the Fitbit Versa is another device that could be a worthy investment. It claims to be a great motivator of physical activity but at a more affordable and compelling price point.
Controls Your Intake
When it comes to diabetes, what you take in is just as important as what you sweat out. At the very least, this entails minimizing sugar intake and eating more nutritious food. There’s actually more to the science, however, which is why smartphone apps like MyFitnessPal, My Diet Diary, Recipes for Diabetics, and others come in handy. These apps make it easier to monitor your food intake, as well as make sure that you’re eating the right things.
It’s also a good idea to introduce supplements to control — and even lose — weight. While there’s no all-around magic pill for weight loss, there are supplements available that do work well as a companion to a good diet and exercise. But of course, it’s only sensible to err on the side of caution and make sure that you only choose safe supplements.
Tracks the Data That Matters
With a diabetes diagnosis comes a slew of added responsibilities, including always staying on top of your ABCs, namely A1C or your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. Bear in mind that tracking these three crucial numbers is paramount in managing the disease.
It’s a good idea, therefore, to add apps like mySugr, Diabetes Connect, and Health2Sync to your arsenal as these make it easier to keep an eye on your data. Moreover, apps like Glucose Buddy, BeatO, and One-Touch Reveal, to name a few, automatically integrate with some of today’s most popular glucometers, giving you added convenience and accuracy.
Delivers What You Need
In the past decade or so, insulin pumps have really grown in leaps and bounds. At their most basic level, these devices allow the easy delivery of much-needed insulin. However, they have since been fortified with recent improvements and iterations. With new features like touchscreens, wireless connectivity, app integration, and more, they have become very powerful tools, specially created to make insulin-dependent lives a lot easier.
Indeed, a life with diabetes is not at all a sweet life, pun intended. However, by taking advantage of technology, managing the disease will soon become second nature, leaving you with no reason not to live your life to the fullest.
