How the mySugr® app improved Clare’s diabetes engagement

Before using the mySugr* diabetes management app, Clare reported being disengaged with her type two diabetes management. She hadn’t tried using a health management app before and she only very rarely monitored her blood glucose, when she knew that she had an upcoming appointment with her consultant. Here we share Clare's experience of using the mySugr app and becoming more motivated to manage her diabetes.

By the time Clare was referred to the diabetes specialist clinic, with an HbA1c of 102 mmol/mol (11.5%), she was concerned she was going to have a heart attack or a stroke due to her high blood sugar readings. Clare admits she had been “in denial” with her diabetes management for about twenty years.

At the specialist clinic Clare was set up with the Accu-Chek Instant blood glucose meter with the mySugr app, which she found helped to make her interested in her blood glucose readings. She is now monitoring twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. She finds that having the graph on the mySugr app, and being able to see her own data helps to motivate her, she now feels that she can make a difference to her diabetes management.

“It gives me a goal to strive for, when I get a good blood glucose result I think to myself, that’s another good HbA1c I'm going to get.”

Clare’s HbA1c is the lowest it’s ever been in her life, at 44 mmol/mol (6.2%), and Clare was discharged from the service after six months. “The app has made me more aware of how I can help myself. I rely on my partner for support but this gives me independence. I know my blood glucose results right away and I get a good feeling when I see good results. It gives you a goal, you see that HbA1c and you never want it to go up again.”

Even though she’s left the service, her confidence is boosted because she has the mySugr app. Without it, Clare would be more concerned about her diabetes being stable if she couldn’t see the data for herself.

Previously she had no idea what her HbA1c would be, and had to wait three months between each blood test to find out. She feels the insight she is given by having her data to hand means that her and other users are “in the know, you’re the first one to know what your sugar levels are and what you can do to compensate.”

Her husband explains, “Clare has gone from being in denial to embracing her health, it’s opened up a whole new world to her. She is in control of her own self monitoring and her diabetes care.”  Clare adds, “when I see consultants, I’m no longer just listening to them. All of a sudden I’m the one giving them the information. It’s changed my attitude towards diabetes, I know now that I can change things.”

Learn more about mySugr and download the app here.