Purpose: Assessing free diabetes smartphone apps in 2016 and 2017 for popularity and features of the Diabetes Self Management/Education Guidelines (DSME) from the ADA.

Methods: Google analytics were used to evaluate the 11 most popular apps for 2016 and 2017. The apps were then assessed with the ADA's DSME guidelines. The 2016 app ranking was taken from our unpublished data. 1

Results: While 8/11 had HbA1c in 2016, this category improves to 100% in 2017. In 2016 v 2017: 6/11 vs. 10/11 used calorie counting. For triglycerides and lipids, both in 2016 and 2017, only one app features this category. For psychological moods, there were two apps with this feature in 2016 but only one in 2017. Goal setting in 2016 v 2017: 4 vs. 5.

Conclusions: The apps from 2017 are greatly improved over 2016. All except one app show cal/carbs, HbA1c/FBS, medical diary/log. However there is still room for improvement for the categories of Triglycerides/lipids, Psychological mood, BMI and Goal setting. We, as physicians, look forward to more robust free apps for diabetic patients.

Reference: Gao M, Wu G, Bautista BM et al. "2016 Diabetes Smartphone Apps and Diabetes Self Management Education/Support Guidelines. Endocrine Society poster presentation, Orlando FL, April 3, 2017.

graphic
View largeDownload slide
Disclosure

G. Wu: None. V. Ngo: None.

© 2018 by the American Diabetes Association.
2018
Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered. More information is available at http://www.diabetesjournals.org/content/license.