3 minute read
Introducing My Diabetes Journey
A free app from Diabetes NZ – My Diabetes Journey – is set to make it easier and more convenient for people with diabetes to manage their health.
Karen Reed, Diabetes NZ District Manager for Waiariki, is excited about the app’s launch this November. She supports people living with diabetes on a daily basis and says the app will give them the confidence to continue live life well, especially at times when they don’t have access to inperson support.
PACKED WITH RESOURCES YOU CAN PERSONALISE
The new app replaces the Diabetes NZ Take Control Toolkit.
Karen says, ‘At the time, the Toolkit was an innovative way of providing relevant reliable credible information about diabetes and its management. Five years on, it has little advantage other than providing a shortcut to a pdf file!’ new app are key. Rather than simply referring to information, people with diabetes will be able to personalise and use the app to their own advantage.’
Interactive features of My Diabetes Journey include a food diary, space to record and track movement goals, and – a feature Karen is particularly looking forward to – the option to upload photos of changes to your feet or note down any topto-toe changes to discuss with your doctor or diabetes nurse.
The app will also include new diabetes distress content that was developed as part of last year’s Diabetes Action Month, to support emotional wellbeing.
EXCITING POTENTIAL
Karen says, ‘I’d love to see the app recognised as the go-to tool that can be used to support the behaviours we need to adopt in order to live well with diabetes. Locally, I’ll be promoting it to people with diabetes – and health care professionals, too.’
She’s already looking ahead: ‘There’s huge potential for this app, especially if, in future versions, users can communicate and share information with patient management systems.’
My Diabetes Journey features about 60 resources from the original Take Control Toolkit. These have been updated and, through the app, are now easier to access exactly when you need them – as well as customisable to your own needs.
With recipes, nutritional information and tips, inspiration to help you get moving, and resources to manage your mental health, My Diabetes Journey is also a place to keep track of daily exercise, food intake, emotional wellbeing, and any changes to your health.
Karen says, ‘Personally, I – and many people I know – have huge inertia when it comes to “daily exercise”, so I’m hoping this will help in terms of not only setting goals but achieving them.
‘The interactive features of the new app are key. Rather than simply referring to information, people with diabetes will be able to personalise and use the app to their own advantage.’
Interactive features of My Diabetes Journey include a food diary, space to record and track movement goals, and – a feature Karen is particularly looking forward to – the option to upload photos of changes to your feet or note down any topto-toe changes to discuss with your doctor or diabetes nurse.
The app will also include new diabetes distress content that was developed as part of last year’s Diabetes Action Month, to support emotional wellbeing.
EXCITING POTENTIAL
Karen says, ‘I’d love to see the app recognised as the go-to tool that can be used to support the behaviours we need to adopt in order to live well with diabetes. Locally, I’ll be promoting it to people with diabetes – and health care professionals, too.’
She’s already looking ahead: ‘There’s huge potential for this app, especially if, in future versions, users can communicate and share information with patient management systems.’
