According to the CDC, uncontrolled diabetes can lead to heart disease, vision loss, kidney disease, and other serious health problems. It's also the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. If you are one of the 30 million people in America with diabetes, you can get a handle on the disease with some help from low-cost technology. Tracking exercise levels, blood glucose data, and other essential information gets a whole lot easier with the assistance of low-cost gadgets, free apps, and Dicks Sporting coupons that you can use to buy various tech tools.
Track your physical activity
Exercise is important for those with diabetes, because it can help improve heart health, lower blood sugar levels, and manage body weight. The American Diabetes Association recommends 30 minutes of pulse-raising physical activity five days a week. Fitness trackers can help you track your activity levels, monitor your heart rate, and boost your health. Stores like Dicks Sporting Goods offer an array of different fitness trackers that fit any budget. You can also search online for coupons, cashback offers and other deep discounts on these handy devices.
Monitor your blood glucose level
Equipment for monitoring your blood glucose levels is sometimes expensive, and insurance doesn't cover all the options. However, with some research, you can seek out offers for free and low-cost monitors and supplies. For example, you may be able to qualify for a free OneTouch Verio Flex meter, and even without insurance you can get 100 test strips at a low price.
Use a smart pen for proper insulin dosing
Smart pens allow you to inject insulin like a traditional injector pen, but they also use smartphone apps and Bluetooth technology to calculate and administer the right dose. With smart pens, you can also easily share your important data with your doctors. Though some smart pens are expensive, others only cost a small co-payment depending on your insurance plan. Some companies are striving to make these pens affordable. For example, Companion Medical says their InPen will not cost patients more than $35 per year.
Download free apps for your health
Smartphone apps can make a world of difference when it comes to your diabetes. You can use them to track activity, count calories, record blood sugar levels, and much more. Here are just a few of the many free apps available that people with diabetes may find useful:
App for fun workouts – Sworkit is a free app that allows you to enter the type of workout you desire (cardio, strength, yoga, etc.) and how long you want to work out (from 5 minutes to an hour), and the app delivers an awesome workout for you to try. With this app, you can upgrade to the premium option for more features, but the free version is great.
App for fitness tracking – The Endomondo app tracks your workout time and distance, whether you like to walk, run, bike, or play a variety of other sports. It also tracks food intake, offers real-time feedback on your workout, and lets you connect with and get support from friends.
App for diabetes data – Using Glucose Buddy is an easy way to track and analyze your blood glucose levels, insulin dosage, medication, diet, and other important data. You can access all the information from the app itself, or any tablet or computer.
Managing your diabetes is vital for your health. However, it’s not always a simple undertaking. Fortunately, with the assistance of your doctor, proper medications, regular exercise, the right diet, and affordable technology, you can get the disease under control and reduce your risk of a number of complications.
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