The Top 5 Apps for Managing Diabetes

We live in a tech-centric world, and smartphone apps have become increasingly important tools in helping us manage our daily lives and health. Apps can certainly make living with diabetes easier, assisting with everything from diet and exercise to glucose monitoring and symptom management.

Here are five smartly designed apps to consider downloading if you have either been newly diagnosed with diabetes or simply want to gain tighter control of your blood glucose levels.

Comes pre-installed on iPhone, free to download on Android

First things first: everyone should have a current version of their medical ID installed on their smartphone in case of emergency. The app shows a medical alert page on the lock screen of your phone, alerting first responders of any medical conditions, special needs, contacts to call, and other critical information. The Medical ID app comes pre-installed on iPhones and is free to download on Androids—and it's super simple to set up.

Free on iPhone and Android

Fooducate is a nutrition-focused tracking app that empowers you to assess the quality of the foods you're eating, not just the quantity. The app uses a built-in database of hundreds of thousands of scannable barcodes so you can easily count your macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats), but it also helps you make good choices by assigning a letter grade (A, B, C, or D) to a food's nutrition quality. Fooducate then provides you with explanations and alternative recommendations, plus tips from nutrition professionals and community support so you can continue to make smart decisions for optimal blood sugar management.

Free for iPhone and Android; offers in-app purchases

Glucose Buddy is a must-have app for tracking blood glucose levels, insulin, medications, A1c results, and carb intake. The app syncs with Dexcom G5 and G6 glucose monitoring systems and helps you build a thorough record of your health while also counting steps, exercise, and food, and also offers push notifications to remind you when to check your blood sugar next. Glucose Buddy's chart display can help you spot patterns and gain greater insight into your blood sugar trends and you can even create printable reports to bring to your next doctor's appointment.

The standard version of Glucose Buddy is free for both iPhone and Android, but Glucose Buddy Premium offers a subscription service for $14.99 per month or $59.99 per year for an ad-free and customizable experience, including desktop login, community support, custom tags, enhanced filters, and an A1C calculator.

Free for iPhone and Android

MyFitnessPal is one of the most widely-used food tracking apps, thanks to its enormous food database incorporating more than 6 million foods: everything from produce to restaurant menu options to harder-to-find items like Trader Joe's snacks. The barcode scanner lets you input nearly any food from your pantry and the app also incorporates an exercise tracker that syncs with your food choices to help you meet your goals for weight management.

Free for iPhone and Android. To activate the app, you will need an access code from an authorized healthcare provider.

BlueStar Diabetes is an FDA-approved, Class 2 medical app which provides 24/7, real-time coaching from certified diabetes educators. This comprehensive app is available only by prescription and offers an impressive range of tools tailored to the individual. Once registered, users can receive personalized guidance based on their blood glucose, medications, current health, and a review of lifestyle factors affecting diabetes.

In addition, BlueStar provides thousands of tailored coaching messages based on real-time glucose values and trends. While BlueStar is not intended to replace your doctor, it can greatly enhance your care, particularly if you're having difficulty controlling your blood sugar or are in need of ongoing support.

BlueStar is intended for persons 21 and older with type 2 diabetes only. It should not be used by those with type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes, or who use an insulin pump.