My Fitbit Flex: A Delightful Surprise

Posted on September 19, 2013 by kalimared

Just got a new Fitbit Flex. So far, I’ve only used it for two days, although two days was enough to have me feeling a bit like Wonder Woman with her indestructible wrist cuffs.

With logging diabetes data on my OmniPod, CGM, and BG tracking app, why on earth would I want yet another data entry device to worry about?! Turns out one of the most attractive things about the Fitbit is that it isn’t subject to any of the proprietary B.S. that all my other devices fall victim to when it comes time to actually view the data. It’s so simple to use that I can see my data with no more hassle than looking at a mobile app or website, it syncs automatically via WiFi, and works across all operating systems and platforms! It’s open API and integrates with lots of mobile apps, giving it even more functionality. Bonus: I don’t have to pierce my body to get it on, deal with calibrations, site changes, alarms, or discomfort. I just wear it like a bracelet and essentially forget about it. It’s providing me with a sense of freedom in patient generated data (PGD) that I’ve longed for with my diabetes devices. Because it’s so much easier than what I’m used to, I’m actually motivated to set activity goals and complete them. What a treat!

I know a lot of Fitbit users like to keep in touch via social media and share their data, but something else I really love about the Fitbit is that I don’t have to share. This is my data and mine alone! I’m not required to whip it out and share it with physicians at every turn in the road. I don’t have to scramble to have all my data-entry ducks in a row, only to have my Endo pour over it (in 5 minutes flat!) offering the inevitable praise here and reprimand there. It’s my Fitbit…my secret…my precious…

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Big Diabetes Data Requires Big Analyses

Posted on September 17, 2013 by kalimared

If you’re anything like me, you’re currently clocking data on your CGM, your insulin pump, your BG meter, and any other number of devices including mobile apps for diabetes, fitness, or menstrual cycle, and wearable fitness devices like Fitbit.

It’s easy to look at one post-meal high and make a judgment call. But it’s really hard to look at months worth of data and try to pull out patterns to really improve overall BGs and health. Websites that integrate with my OmniPod and CGM (and are Mac compatible…don’t get me started on this…Gah!) only have the capability to really track BG and carb counts well. But we all know it’s the type of carbs, not the number of carbs that really matters. Also, was I especially active on a particular day? Stressed from a big meeting at work? Having PMS? So many variables to consider!

Since I already have all the BG and insulin data on my pump, meter, and CGM, (that I’ve laboriously collected!) I literally fantasize about just uploading those items to a single program online and then using apps of my choice to input details about my other “life variables,” such as food, exercise and activities, moods, monthly cycle, etc…..and finally (here’s the kicker) have the apps sync their data with the existing pump/meter/CGM data online in the same program! Perfect! Easy! Right? No way!

As you’re probably well aware, most of our diabetes meters, pumps, and CGMs have proprietary software and/or limited relationships with other diabetes-device companies. So, based on who manufactured our devices, we’re all pretty much limited to one or two platforms for viewing the data…and those options sadly don’t integrate with apps we’re using to track our food, fitness, etc.

My current work-a-round solution for viewing OmniPod and CGM data (on a Mac) is Diasend, however even here you need a Clinic ID# (or to register as a non-US citizen) or your CGM tab will be grayed out. I also use the mySugr app for logging (btw…I love mySugar), Google Cal for my monthly cycle and HRT, and just started tracking activity and sleep with a Fitbit Flex. I make it work but it’s still me piecing together data from four different locations.

Fortunately (and just in the nick of time if you ask me) the US is at the beginning of a wave of personalized, data-centric healthcare, sometimes called the Quantified Self. A lot of new data collection platforms designed for non-PWDs (like Fitbit and Lose It!) are using open APIs, which means they share and can integrate data. After years of finding work-a-rounds and “making do” I feel like the current big data trend in healthcare is finally going to make my fantasy a realty…in the very near future. So, everyone put down your proprietary diabetes devices for a second and raise your glass! Here’s to hoping!

Super interested in the Quantified-Self movement like me? Here are a few really cool recent articles:

Will An App A Day Keep The Doctor Away? The Coming Health Revolution (Forbes)

Solving America’s Big Health Care Challenges With Big Data (Huffington Post)

How Patient Generated Data Changes Healthcare (Information Week Healthcare)

I Ate an Entire Tube of Glucose Tabs During the Night: So Much for My SoloHealth Station Assessment

Posted on September 13, 2013 by kalimared

Wednesday night was date night for my husband and I, just a relaxing dinner for two. We planned to make it an early night (since I had a cold) but didn’t want to get home before the kids were in bed (sorry sweeties…we love you but mommies and daddies sometimes need a little break). So, we stopped at the drug store to pick up a couple of things, where we spotted the SoloHealth Station and, being in no rush to get home, decided to give it a whirl.

Love Tester Machine Ok, I confess we were a bit like kids playing around with the old-school “love testers” at the fairgrounds. “My turn, my turn! Yeah, take that test too! Giggle, giggle.”

Turns out my husband could stand to work on improving his sleep patterns, but me? I passed all the tests with flying colors, including BMI, Blood pressure, Sleep Assessment, and a Health Risk Screening.

I’m not the most photogenic person. My husband is forever laughing and calling me out for “talking” during the picture.

However, last night I definitely wasn’t’ the shining example of health portrayed by my friend, the trusty SoloHealth Station. Last night I was low, low, low. Don’t you wish there was an easy or obvious answer for every bout of irregular blood sugar readings? I may feel guilty when I miscalculate my carb intake and end up high or low…but at least I know why! I find it infinitely more frustrating to be left guessing…or to have irregular blood sugars for some other reason that I have no control over, like an illness. While I do have a pretty wicked head cold right now, I’ve already had it for about 5 days and usually being sick raises my sugars instead of lowering them. Last night my CGM woke me at least 4 or 5 times! A couple of those times I was only a little low, so I just popped a single tab or two and fell back asleep (thinking the issue would be over). Only to be woken again, and again, and again. Finally I was woken in the 40s and upon dragging myself out of bed I realized that my menstrual flow had gone haywire in the night and was extremely heavy. Huh? Now I’m sick, having hard-to-ditch low blood sugar in the middle of the night, and a heinous menstrual cycle?! Is this the Universe’s cocked-up way of letting me know it’s Friday the 13th? Not funny Universe…not funny.

Dexcom CGM low night As bad as it is, I’m thankful for my CGM and the peace of mind it provides in situations like this. What could have happened if I didn’t have it? After all, I was pretty zonked out on cold medicine. This isn’t the first time since having my second child and going back on HRT 6 months ago that I’ve had a crazy girl cycle. Guess it’s time to bite the bullet and go to see the Dr again just to be on the safe side and make sure I’m not missing anything (short of the Universe’s evil Friday the 13^th plan, of course). But, it’s also definitely one of those mornings where I wish I could just catch a break. I wish I could just be an average Joe, someone who could actually use the SoloHealth Station (with it’s simple metrics and variables) to get a realistic snapshot of my health. Sigh…

mySugr Diabetes Logging App: Awesomesauce!

Posted on September 6, 2013 by kalimared

How on earth could a diabetes logging app earn the term “awesomesauce”? I mean, come on, we all know logging is lame. Well, read on! mySugr is easy to use, modern looking (seriously, no medical clunkiness here!), and extremely rewarding. It’s fun to play, keeps my information stored and accessible in a bunch of useful ways…and it’s pretty too!

When you first create your account with the app, you get to name your “Diabetes Monster.” This little guy sits on your home screen and chides you with silly faces and “na nanny booboos” until you earn 50 points in a day and then he gets a zipper placed over his mouth (literally) and you’ve “tamed the monster” for the day. Here, mine is named “Yo Cyborg Yo” and I currently have 38 points, (which is tracked with a blue progress bar in the top portion of the screen).

mySugr home screen

Logging entries is quick and easy. The time and location are auto-set. Most of the fields use your phone number keypad (as opposed to scroll wheels with limited options). There are three screens of fun little icons for quickly adding information that you’d have to type into a notes field in other apps, like “alcohol” or “menstruation” (don’t worry, there is still a manual-type notes field for when you want it).

mySugr icons

One of my favorite features of this app is the ability to take pictures of what food I’m logging (right from the log entry), because it’s not about the number of carbs but the type of carbs, right? They really hit the nail on the head here. No more laborious, typed descriptions of what kind of food I’m eating…just snap-and-go!

There is a colored BG graph at the top of the logbook and as you scroll back through your entries, the graph moves too and shows the BG data occurring in the 24- hour period surrounding the logbook entries currently showing on your screen. I love how dynamic this is!

mySugr-logbook mySugr photo entry

You can also look up past entries by searching for any term you typed in (such as descriptions or notes), location name, or chose a picture from the photo library and then see the same 24-hour graph displayed for any search results entry you chose. Great for checking to see what happened to your BG the last time you tried you a pint of stout from that new place down the street :)

mySugr challenges To get the Pro version (which includes the keyword search, unlimited photos, and various personalization options), all you have to do is “play” the challenges. Yes, there are enough challenges to let you win and keep Pro without paying for it…if you keep playing and completing them. Two of the challenges involve logging a certain number of BG entries and two of them involve logging a certain amount of activity (bonus: one of these earns community points towards JDRF donations!). All challenges are available once a week.

Even though there isn’t a corresponding website where you can access your data and reports, your data is stored on a server and you can access it on multiple devices (iPhone and iPad) at the same time after entering your account info into the app. This is key for me so if my iPhone gets lost/stolen I won’t lose all my past data forever.

In a perfect world, what would I add if I could?

I’d love if it had a way to enter information for an extended bolus. When I eat something that I use a bolus extension for, I like to try to look back at similar entries and see if past extensions worked or need modification. i.e. Did I extend 50% for 2 hours or 30% for 3?
I’d also like to be able to save “activity descriptions” I’ve entered in some kind of dropdown, so I didn’t have to type the same ones over and over.
And I’d like to be able to reorganize the order of the tag icons, so I could put the ones I use the most on the first screen and not have to flip through several screens to get to them.

A word on customer service:

I had a syncing error when the app was updated and lost enough data to make me loose a couple of challenges. Sad face. I contacted customer support (turned out to be Scott Johnson) and he promptly sent me a coupon code to redeem several days of Pro (plus some for my trouble). When there was a glitch in the system to cache in those days on my account, I contacted him again. It took quite a few trial solutions for them to figure out what was going wrong and fix it but they really stuck with it until a solution was reached….for one little piddly customer. I was impressed.

mySugr Made with love As a final note, I really appreciate when I scroll down on the home screen and see a little “Made with love ♥” tag. My husband, who is a designer, uses this saying a lot. When we go out to eat he uses it to describe a plate of food that he thinks someone gave a lot of cooking time and attention to, as opposed to slapping it on the plate. So, if mySugr were a plate of food I ordered in a restaurant, it would certainly earn the term Made with love!