A recent article in U.S. News My Favorite Fitness App highlighted new apps, gadgets and gizmos to track and promote exercise habits. I began to wonder what percent of people actually use these fancy tools on a regular basis – and do they have diabetes?
I have been a data collector and data tracker for my type 1 diabetes verging on 30 years. My first thought was – would I really want to inflict more tracking and device wearing upon myself when I am already maxed out with gadgets for disease management?
Self Tracking
My mixed bag is already stuffed with a glucometer, finger lancets, glucose strips, alcohol wipes, continuous glucose monitor receiver, glucagon, juice boxes and countless other odds and ends. Plus, I’m wearing an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor all of the time attached to my physical self.
Sometimes I feel loaded down like a pack mule (not to mention I have a daughter doing the same thing). And to boot, an abbreviated version of this comes with me when I exercise as well – more weight, more calories burned?
Do I exercise?
Yes, a lot. It is one of the three pillars of managing type 1 diabetes – diet, exercise and insulin.
Now, back to the article…
I was fascinated by this author as she spoke about her experiences using UP by Jawbone. She had experimented with various exercise trackers before, but none pleased her as much as the UP wristband. She wears her “magical” bracelet everyday to track her active and inactive times.
“I try to wear the wristband during all of my waking hours. Doing so makes me feel productive and accomplished, and motivates me to #moveitorloseit (my mantra)… When I wear the wristband, I feel positive pressure to move more… Am I addicted to my little blue bracelet? A little bit.”
“Just the other day, I actually felt naked when I inadvertently left the wristband charging on my laptop while I ran errands… I love the devices so much that I recently resorted to stuffing it in my bra while at a fund raiser… (I am secretly hoping that the makers of the wristband create dressier versions that look more like jewelry … A girl can dream, right?)”
I noticed the author and I have certain certain things in common -
I love my devices (insulin pump and my CGM) so I can tell whats going on with my body.
I also feel naked if I forget to put my pump back on right after I shower for example.
I’m not so happy about the way any of them look.
I always feel positive pressure to manage my diabetes the best I possibly can- heightened awareness through immediate device feedback helps.
Finally, I certainly wish they would look like jewelry as well.
(On a side bar – I honestly did have a little guffaw at this article when she speaks about hiding her bracelet and wishing it looked more like “jewelry”. I thought to myself- try wearing a continuous glucose monitor taped on your arm and an insulin pump shoved in your underwear to a fancy event, now that may give some perspective about wearing a bracelet for tracking. Imagine if all of the tracking for type 1 diabetes could occur through a bracelet…)
Nevertheless, herein lies the difference – My gadgets are life sustaining.
Diabetes and Fitness Devices – Would I Wear One?
My narrow view boils down to this – a fitness tracking device is just another thing to carry, wear, charge and possibly lose or break. I personally choose to spend my intensive thoughts on my blood sugars and living between the lines on my continuous glucose monitor.
When diabetes can be managed in a less mechanical way, I would love to have the time to focus on how much my body moves every day. For now I will continue to exercise every day and measure my successes through the consistent numbers that appear on my gadgets, my hemoglobin A1c results every three months and the consistency with which I am able to fit into my pants.
(I’m not fond of scales either, by the way.)