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An app a day shouldn't keep the doctor away
January 30, 2014

smartphoneThey call them “smartphones” for a reason - they can do so much more than just make calls or send text messages. These days, there are apps for everything from finding your way through city traffic to tracking your sleep patterns to games and everything in between. There are even apps that let you buy your morning coffee just by waving your phone in front of a scanner - no need to hand over cash or card to the barista.

But there is also a growing field of apps designed for health and fitness, many of which are excellent ways to keep track of calories and exercise for those trying to slim down or stay fit. Among these are a number of diabetes management apps.

These apps are wonderfully useful. A number of the staff here at Marine Polymer use them, such as RunKeeper for tracking exercise or MyFitnessPal for logging foods and weight. These apps can also be linked with various social accounts, so your activities can be shared via Twitter, Facebook or Google+. This can be helpful in constructing a support system with friends and family to encourage you to keep going and reach your goals.

But, while these apps are quite helpful, especially for those on the go, they are not designed to replace information from your doctor.

In a story from US News and World Report, dietitian Shelley Wishnick of the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York says, “Apps don’t replace your doctor.”

We couldn’t agree more. We always stress the necessity of patient knowledge when it comes to healthcare. Any diet and exercise plan should be constructed with the help of a doctor, especially for diabetic patients.

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