Overall App Summary:
The Glucose Buddy app is “good enough” as an electronic blood glucose diary; but provides a less than desirable user experience or user interface. It has high feature functionality in that it does sync data with caregiver (parent, child) and allows sharing on social media (so social buddy system is in play). However, only for recently diagnosed patient who is highly motivated or someone who is always able to manual entry which is time consuming. Clunky design (from UI perspective).
App’s Intended Use:
Glucose Buddy is primarily intended for patients with diabetes who are interested in logging and tracking their disease. The app allows glucose monitoring not just for the patient, but also for a caregiver which is very popular in that parents can monitor their child’s glucose readings in a Type 1 diabetic.
Who’s this app most useful for?
Child or adolescent with Type 1 diabetes or Caregiver (mom or child with parent with diabetes) who are self-interested in, or are instructed by their provider team in, logging and tracking their blood glucose levels.
How should one use it?
Patients should remember to check their blood sugars as instructed by their provider team (once daily or multiple times per day) and manually enter the blood sugar numbers into the app. Requires pre-education to understand how the app should be best used.
Why should anyone use the app? Is it clinically relevant?
The app is a simple electronic/ digital blood sugar diary; but really doesn’t have any key functionalities beyond that. It’s an alternative to the traditional paper/pen log. There is a clear summary feature and really the readings and summary are the only really useful features. Not sure what utility the “social media” functionality has, maybe a distractor on the screen.
Is there any published evidence that the app actually works?
The app clearly works “just fine” as a digital diary. However, in regards to increasing compliance with logging blood sugars or actually improving management of diabetes, the reviewers could not find any evidence.
Regulatory Compliance
Not FDA cleared, but most likely exempt under Mobile Medical Applications guidance – enforcement discretion.
What is the most important/ desirable feature of the app?
The app is quite simple and is visually not very appealing. It is “good enough”, but leaves a lot to be desired. It does have lots of functionalities, but not sure how valuable they really are.
How does this app compare to other apps in this category?
Not as good as some other apps in this category. However, this is still a very good app because the “sync” feature carries reassurance for patients and their family members which is very helpful.
If there’s a paid version, is it worth the upgrade?
Did not test the paid version.
Security and Privacy
Password: Yes, in paid-version
Encryption:
Data Security: Hard to find
Data Sharing: Hard to find
Regulatory Compliance:
Reviewer(s)
Editor(s)
