Whether you have type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes, understanding how food, physical activity, and your blood sugar levels interact is critical for controlling your condition. It can be overwhelming to think about carb counts, insulin doses, A1C, glucose, glycemic index, blood pressure, weight… the list goes on! But phone apps can simplify tracking and learning. Use them to consolidate your health information into one spot and learn more about your condition so you can make informed choices to manage your health.
For novices and longtime pros, here are our best diabetes apps for 2019.
iPhone rating: 4.7 stars
Android rating: 4.4 stars
Price: Free with in-app purchases
When it comes to managing diabetes, knowledge is power. Fooducate is here to support you in figuring out which foods are best for keeping your blood sugar in a healthy range, because not all foods — or even carbs — are created equal. Scan or search for foods and see Fooducate's grade of its calorie quality. The app makes it easy for you track and discover more information about the foods you put in your body, including added sugar content, hidden ingredients, and more.
iPhone rating: 4.6 stars
Android rating: 4.5 stars
Price: $3.99 with in-app purchases
This is a calorie counter made with diabetes in mind. In addition to everything you'd expect from a calorie tracker — including the ability to sync with your fitness devices — MyNetDiary has space to track A1C, blood pressure, medications, symptoms, blood glucose level, net carbs, and total carb count. Comprehensive tracking and in-depth reports will help you understand how your diet, exercise, and lifestyle affect your health.
iPhone rating: 4.7 stars
Android rating: 4.6 stars
Price: Free with in-app purchases
A clean, intuitive, customizable dashboard interface and the ability to sync with your glucose monitor set this app apart. MySugr has features that help you make the most out of the app, such as reminders that ping you to follow-up with more data (like blood sugar levels after a workout). All of the data and charts are easy to send to your doctor, so you can work together to adjust your treatment and better manage your diabetes based on real, accurate information.
Android rating: 4.5 stars
Price: Free with in-app purchases
BG Monitor is a diabetes log that keeps everything in one spot. Track your blood glucose, insulin, and carb intake. Input your target numbers, and the app automatically calculates your insulin for you. Moving your log off of paper and into an app means you can leverage data analytics to chart your trends, make smarter choices for your health, and share your information with loved ones and providers in a snap. Programming multiple reminders into the app lets you take your mind off your diabetes management so you can spend more of your focus on the things you love.
iPhone rating: 4.6 stars
Android rating: 4.6 stars
Price: Free with in-app purchases
This app combines the convenience and insight of a digital diabetes log with the human encouragement that can make all the difference on the days you need it. The dashboard summarizes your recent blood glucose history in a color-coded distribution of readings that fall inside, above, or below your healthy range. Invite loved ones to be your partner in the app, and they'll not only be able to review your data, but also send along warm words to help you keep up the good work. The app is a helpful reminder that you're not in this alone.
iPhone rating: 4.8 stars
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Glucose Buddy connects to your Dexcom glucometer or allows you to log your numbers manually while also tracking steps, exercise, and meals. Under the subscription plan, you'll find an ad-free experience and in-depth reporting on A1C and other measures, as well as customizable display options that make the app even easier for your unique use.
iPhone rating: 4.5 stars
Android rating: 4.5 stars
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Diabetes Connect helps you better control your diabetes by making the app work for you. Toggle features on or off depending on your use, and access your dashboard via the app or a web browser for better viewing. Track your weight, blood sugar, meals, insulin injections, medication and more in one spot and sync it across several devices, so your data is always on hand. You can print out an export of your data to share with your doctor at your next visit to make the conversation more productive, too.
iPhone rating: 4.6 stars
Android rating: 4.6 stars
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Diabetes:M is a diabetes log app with all the features you'd hope for: test time reminders, a nutritional log and tracking system, integrations with fitness apps, and blood sugar trend mapping. The app also offers an insulin bolus calculator based on the nutritional information you add. Use the app's powerful tools to look at trend graphs and charts in adjustable timeframes, so glucose control is back in your hands… or, with the Apple Watch app, on your wrist. If you upgrade to the subscription service, the app allows you to have multiple profiles — an added level of convenience if someone else in the family is managing diabetes, too.
Android rating: 4.6 stars
Price: Free with in-app purchases
If you're newly diagnosed, this beginner-friendly app can help bring you up to speed with your new condition. With plenty of diabetes 101 information, from the foods to avoid to simple ways to increase your physical activity, you'll be a master in no time. Learn the complications to watch for and stay up to date with treatment options, from medical to Ayurvedic. Download this pocket guidebook and see why it's so popular.
Android rating: 4.6 stars
Price: Free with in-app purchases
This app takes it back to the basics, making it a useful tool for people diabetes and prediabetes alike. The Diabetic Diet app is a wealth of resources on all things food, healthy eating, and weight loss for diabetes. Whether you have the condition or care about someone who does, this app can help you act from a place of knowledge and choose the foods that will keep you healthy and balanced. The reading material in this app serves as a straightforward, informative, and useful crash course on the do's and don'ts, for seasoned pros and the newly diagnosed.
iPhone rating: 4.6 stars
Android rating: 4.2 stars
Price: Free
Simplicity is the name of the game with Sugar Sense. With a few simple taps, you can track your blood sugar, weight, insulin, carbs, and exercise to take a holistic look at your glucose levels. The app has automatic step counts and integrates with another nutrition log. Special features include HbA1C estimation and tracking in either mmol/L or Mg/dL. The app is easy to use and makes syncing your nutrition information with your glucose levels a breeze.
iPhone rating: 4.7 stars
Android rating: 4.0 stars
Price: Free
This app, which complements the OneTouch Verio Flex meter, is a go-to for automatic insights. Using your blood glucose readings, the app automatically searches for and highlights trends. Blood sugar frequently out of range after 9 p.m.? Not only will the app spot the trend, but push notifications will alert you so you can take action. The app plots important trend events in a timeline, too, making ongoing patterns easy to spot. Your physician can log in to review your history and adjust your care plan based on your diet and carb ratios. A clean, color-coded interface reveals your high/low distribution, counts your daily readings, and lets you see at a glance when your sugar levels are healthy or out of range.
iPhone rating: 2.7 stars
Android rating: 4.5 stars
Price: Free
The BeatO app pulls data instantly from the BeatO glucometer, a device that turns your smartphone into a real glucometer. Use a different glucose monitor? No problem, manual logging of your glucose levels is still an option. BeatO is also backed by a team of medical experts who are there to jump in with a reminder when your levels are off or to guide you toward a healthier lifestyle, meaning you always have a partner to lean on in your ongoing quest to manage diabetes safely.
If you want to nominate an app for this list, email us at nominations@healthline.com.
Amanda Doyle is a Boston-based healthcare editor, former dance fitness instructor, and previous neuroscience researcher. She's passionate about equity, kindness, conscious language, and destigmatizing the human experience.