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Data management systems???

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For our weekly feature this week we are focusing on data management systems. I wonder if anyone out there currently uses a data management system to manage their diabetes either by themselves or in conjunction with healthcare professionals?

Do you rate them? hate them? Let your voice be heard!

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I use OneTouch Diabetes Management Software v 2.3.

Can be downloaded from Lifescan for free and is used with One Touch Ultra Meters.

You can import the readings from your meter via USB and save and print the info.

You can keep records of not only blood glucose levels but also health check records, medication and print out a variety of charts.

You can set your own parameters so that the charts automatically show you when you are higher or lower than you own chosen levels.

The Health check section will show you your latest and previous weight, bp,Cholesterol etc in a graph as well as figure form.

With the USB it is easy to use and the One touch Ultra Smart meter allows you to input health data, carb content of food etc so you have all the info to hand.

Even if putting the data in by hand it is easy to use and a useful tool to show HCP’s just how you are managing your blood sugar levels on a daily basis.
 
I use the Accu Chek Aviva meter and the 'Compass' software that allows you to upload the meter data and displays it in various forms. ie weekly and monthly averages and trends showing how many pre and postprandial readings were within range etc.

Not too sure if it is all that useful though as I feel it is better to work with individual meter readings on a meal by meal basis.

Another negative point is that it seems every meter has its own software specifically for that meter and I feel a unified software package instantly usable by HCP would be more use as my diabetes nurse's eyes seem to glaze over when I show her my print outs so she obviously doesn't really know what she is looking at. Surely it wouldnt be too hard to write a program that would upload data from a variety of meters and display the information in a uniform fashion so patients and HCP would instantly know what they were looking at.

Different companies working together for the good of the patient? nah, never happen would it :lol:
 
I looked at what was available for the aviva nano and then set my husband to write a simple Excel spreadsheet on which to list food, amount eaten and carbs therefore consumed, plus all the totals and graph outputs. ie do it yourself but only for the things I needed. It took him about 20 minutes and I guess I could have done it myself but ex-bankers should earn their evening meals! I filled this in for 12 weeks including showing the GP and then ditched it for a simple list in a simple notebook, which, as Sid says, addresses day-to-day stuff. So the official software goes way too far for my uses.
DG
 
I have 2 systems, the One touch as described by Sue, I use this to download my meter readings and make printouts for my doctor since she is familiar with the software and it doesn't matter that everything is labelled in English (she doesn't speak any English).
My biggest disadvantage with One touch is that I cannot get it to work on my laptop. I have to use my OHs computer. I
I also have and use SIdiary by Sinovo. Strangely I have no problems downloading from my meter onto the laptop with the One touch cable.
I originally downloaded a early version of this software from the web as shareware (and indeed by searching you still can). I then bought version 5 a as this included exercise and pump data. Version 6 is now available.

Sidiary tracks glucose reading, exercise, [type, length, intensity ]carb intake, weight, blood pressure, and for me as a pumper basal rates, temp basals, carb ratio and correction factors , changes of cannula, reservoir and battery. There is a space for additional remarks.
If you input your levels and carb count before a meal it will suggest a bolus however this feature is on the pump anyway so seems redundant. I have to put pump data in manually but it can be downloaded from accucheck pumps.
It has an area to record lab test results and a nutrition data base which I haven't used much as it is from an US source.(overcomplex oatmeal gives me 80 results and many are given as cups not grams)

Like the One touch it will provide a variety of charts and graphs and stats. I find paticularly useful that it shows the standard deviation of readings (all data or in time frames), and gives an estimated Hb A1c which has always matched my actual lab reading (no idea how)

I used the program for 2 years on MDI and when I started the pump and found it really useful. Initially I used to input data daily, make lots of remarks about types of food , levels of exercise etc and it helped me track patterns and work out where to change things. It was great to be able to predict my Hb A1c. It played a big part in my learning about how food, insulin and exercise affect me.

I now I tend to use it much less often than before. I grew more confident and also more lazy, the data input became a chore and if left more than a day or too, it obviously became less accurate and less useful.
Now I use it everynow and then, if changing basals or if bgl become less predictable, or when I'm raising my levels of exercise. I'm also more selective about what data only putting in what I actually need.
Overall I think It's an excellent system for people to use when first diagnosed, it's also great for trying to spot patterns and for trying to work out why levels have changed.
 
When on MDI I used the lifescan onetouch software + ultrasmart meter (same as Sue's) This was a nice bit of software, I found the ability to select diffrent time periods for comparision a handy feature indeed.. It does have the ability of adding pump information, but this is very limited indeed, You can not match your pumps basal changes by the hour only in timed blocks, and no ability to include TBR's so this feature for most pumpers is worthless sadly... As for me, I found this to be one of the best programs around..

Since going on the pump I've changed meters and software to match my pump..

I have tried the Smart pix, found this to be pretty naff indeed, easy to set up as it's incorparated into the reader, it self loads when you plug the reader into your computer.. But the biggest problems is that it only reads a predetermin blocks of weeks, 1,2,4 or 8 weeks it has no ability to choose which week you acutally want to look at... You can get several charts and patterns but no avaiblity to view or enter carb amounts at all... And there is no way of saving on file any information, only printing an hard copy of it for future reference... (so ditched)

The Compass software

Well yes this is better than the smart pix version, but still has many limitations, as yet even though it tells me that I can load my insulin pump onto it, I still haven't worked out how you actually achieve this! It still limited by several of the smart pix factors but at least you can safe your data as a file...

The pocket compass

This is mainly designed to be used with the insulin pump, but has to be ran on a PDA, I can set all my basal rates on this meter, it even has a list of carb vaules, and you can add your own foods, and also create a list of fav foods to give selection quicker..

You can enter, TBR's, bolus's and type of bolus used, you can imput (once worked out) correction factors ect... So it is able to calculate the correction required at any one time with or with out a carb intake...

It's graphs and information are pretty good in many ways, but because everything has to take place on the PDA sometime this can make seeing them diffiuclt indeed.. You can print off reports of vering kinds via your computer, and able to load files onto your computer, but sadly you can't view anything on your computer screen..

If you are using it alongside your insulin pump for control purposes, it becomes a nesence and time comsuming getting the PDA out etc...

There is a fundimently problem with all three of these software, communication from either meter or pump is via the outdated infra red method, which is slow indeed, you have to line up the reciver or transmitter correctly or you end up with corrupt data (and try doing in full sun light) As for the pocket compass using it with meter and pump, there is a very fine error tollerence within time set matching... You lose the ability to ensure that BG/Pump data are calibrated together within the data... If it doens't match you can't build or include it in a report...

So far I found with most management software they promise a lot, but fail to deliver on most..
 
I use Glucose Buddy on my ipod touch to track my blood glucose, insulin, food and exercise. It has a website which you can upload you data to, and this produces a number of graphs and averages and even calculates an estimate of you HbAC1.

I email myself the logs from Glucose Buddy every month and also track them in my own spreadsheet. It started of quite simple but has grown and now does a number of things.

The doctors aren't really too bothered about all the records I keep, but I find it quite useful.
 
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