A Review of Diabetes Management Applications Available in Spanish in the United States
As we all know; managing diabetes is a journey full of challenges. There are many steps during each day that we must take to ensure our health. Having various forms of support can help.
What types of support are there? The medical team, including doctors, specialists, diabetes educators, physical activity coaches, mental health professionals, and others including health coaches, family, and friends. It can also include apps or websites.
One tool identified as useful for people with barriers to adequate access to healthcare is health support apps available for use at home. Poor English proficiency is well recognized as a barrier preventing adequate and meaningful access to medical treatment and support for people living with diabetes in the United States.
Before doing a review myself, I decided to review the research that other people have done on the subject. The research indicated that there are not many apps available in Spanish that are well-designed to support people living with diabetes.
The authors of a study published in January 2018 in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology1 summarized:
“Overall, when reviewing both app stores, 30% (28/92) of apps had descriptions available in Spanish, of which 41% (18/44) of Android apps… and 21% (10/48) of iOS apps were available in Spanish.”
Overall, the available apps that were selected in a study published by Quevado and Wagner in 2019 in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition2 included 42 mobile apps. The authors determined that very few free apps are evidence-based (3 in total) or have a quality seal (3 in total).
I normally have my phone in English, but I wanted to learn more about the function and availability of apps in Spanish that can support people with diabetes management, so I adjusted the settings to Spanish. What I discovered was surprising. The options haven’t changed much since the first review I read was posted in 2018.
Unfortunately, there is still a gap in the number of useful, high-quality, and readable health support apps available in Spanish. For example, from the list of apps in the study by Quevado and Wagner that indicated they were made based on evidence and/or have a quality seal, only 3 apps are available in the US today. Fortunately, there are some, if only a few, additional apps available in Spanish that are well-designed and work well.
Below is a list of available Spanish Diabetes Management apps, including a description of what they offer, the benefits, and the shortcomings I found while using them.
*A few notes: to see the description of an application in Spanish you must have the language preference of the cell phone set to Spanish. To leave the phone in English and use certain applications in Spanish, you can go to the settings in iOS products. Select the application you want to change to Spanish and look for an option to change the language from English to Spanish. When I change the language preference on my cell phone, everything becomes Spanish without having to go to the settings in my iPhone and then select each application.
+depending on the compatibility of your phone or iPad model
Diabetes Management with Apple Health, Google Fit, and Samsung Health Apps
| Availability + | Apple Health is available on compatible Apple products such as certain cell phones or iPads. Google Fit and Samsung Health are available on compatible Android cell phones or tablets. They are all available to log into online. |
| Description | An application that can help you record details about your health and share the information with reports (reports). Syncs with multiple apps and devices. |
| Benefits | It’s easy to use, you can control which other apps communicate with the app, and you can customize what options you want to turn on or see. The description and the data are shown in Spanish in the app and the reports. |
| Deficiencies | None found yet (haven’t experimented with Samsung Health or Google Fit yet) |
Diabetes Management with the Dexcom Clarity App
| Availability + | In iOS, Android, and a website. |
| Description | See patterns or trends in glucose, compare average results or patterns after changing something in the treatment plan, and share data with your diabetes clinic. |
| Benefits | The data is presented in the application in Spanish. The options and indicators to select the reports that you want to export are written in Spanish. You can connect your account with your diabetes clinic. |
| Deficiencies | The reports are not available in Spanish. They are displayed and printed in English. This lack prevents those living with diabetes who speak Spanish from reviewing their own data in the form of a comprehensive report in Spanish. |
Diabetes Management with the Social Diabetes App
| Availability + | In iOS, Android, and a website. |
| Description | An application that can help you record details about your health and share the information with reports. |
| Benefits | Syncs with multiple apps and devices. The description and the data are shown in Spanish in the app and the reports. Connects with Nightscout. You can connect your account with your diabetes clinic. |
| Deficiencies | The app does not connect directly to the sensors (continuous glucose monitor) to display live data. You can view the Dexcom chart behind by 3 hours with a direct connection in the app. You must use a Nightscout or other platform account to display Dexcom, GlucoMen or Libre sensor data in reports. |
Diabetes Management with the Fitbit App
| Availability + | In iOS, Android, and a website. |
| Description | The Fitbit app connects to various fitness sensors to help you record certain details related to your health. Connect the app to multiple devices, like Fitbit watches, and with multiple apps. |
| Benefits | You can set and track your progress toward individualized fitness and wellness goals. The description and data are displayed in Spanish. |
| Deficiencies | none found yet |
Diabetes Management with the Freestyle Libre 2 or 3 App
| Availability + | For daily use, the app is available in iOS and Android. To view the reports in Spanish, you can change the website to Spanish at libreview.com |
| Description | Paired with your Freestyle glucose sensor, you can view glucose updates and receive alerts when glucose is outside your personal target range. |
| Benefits | The description and the data are shown in Spanish in the app and the reports. You can connect your account with your diabetes clinic. |
| Deficiencies | none found yet |
Diabetes Management with the Klinio App
| Availability + | In iOS, Android, and a website. |
| Description | The virtual assistant will help you manage diabetes by changing your habits. Includes a log for glucose, medications, and physical activity. |
| Benefits | Includes assistance with meal planning and a physical activity routine. |
| Deficiencies | Requires a subscription to access the app. |
Diabetes Management with the mySugr App
| Availability + | In iOS and Android |
| Description | An application that can help you record details about your health and share the information with reports (reports). The app’s description says that it supports you during your journey with diabetes. |
| Benefits | Syncs with multiple apps and devices. You can also include photos. The description and the data are shown in Spanish in the app and the reports. |
| Deficiencies | Requires a paid subscription to send reports. |
Diabetes Management with the One Touch Reveal App
| Availability + | In iOS, Android, and a website. |
| Description | An application that can help you record details about your health and share the information with reports (reports). It syncs with the Apple Health and Fitbit apps, and select One Touch Verio blood glucose meters. |
| Benefits | In the Tu Salud study, the use of the Verio Flex monitor and the OneTouch Reveal app helped Spanish-speaking participants improve their management of type 2 diabetes.3 The description and the data are shown in Spanish in the app and the reports. You can connect your account with your diabetes clinic. |
| Deficiencies | none found yet |
Diabetes Management with the Sugarmate App
| Availability + | In iOS, Android, and a website. |
| Description | An application that can help you record details about your health and share the information with reports (reports). Syncs with multiple apps and devices. |
| Benefits | You can also include photos. The description and the data are shown in Spanish in the app and the reports. |
| Deficiencies | none found yet (aside from the fact that the names of the days are displayed in English) |
What other applications that are available in Spanish have you found useful for your self-management of diabetes?
Email me and let me know!
Tavia Vital BSN, BA, RN, CDCES, Director of Intensive Diabetes Management, Integrated Diabetes Services.
Because Integrated Diabetes Services is a private company, we can be creative when it comes to how we care for our clients. We offer remote consultations (by phone, video chat, email, and text) for our clients, and we use downloadable information from electronic devices (pumps, continuous glucose monitors, blood glucose meters, and apps), in our consultations.
Our clients have had tremendous success in achieving their glucose goals and in learning/adopting advanced diabetes management techniques. Each client receives a personalized set of recommendations and a service plan tailored to their unique needs and interests.
Tavia is a Registered Nurse, Certified Diabetes Education and Care Specialist, and Certified Pump Trainer who is fluent in English and in Spanish.
Although Tavia has lived with type 1 diabetes for more than 40 years, she understands that each person’s experiences and needs are unique. She strives to be an expert resource for intensive diabetes management options. She enjoys learning about the latest medications, strategies, and technologies available that can help her clients reduce the burden of diabetes while improving diabetes self-management skills. Tavia is an active listener, a passionate expert, and a true advocate for people with diabetes. She can be trusted to provide strong support to clients facing any challenge in life.
For more information about our services, or to schedule a consult with Tavia, please call the office at 610-642-6055, or contact Tavia on WhatsApp!
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