That’s a really helpful explanation. I like that it points out the real difference isn’t just the alarms it’s whether the alert is generated on the phone or on the server. It definitely makes it easier to understand why some people stick with NightWatch while others prefer the cross-platform setup.
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This is a good question, so besides whatever new information people are getting, it prompts me to reevaluate my ecosystem of apps. Suggestions are appreciated.
My diabetes apps are straightforward:
- Omnipod 5
- day to day management of pump
- Dexcom G7
- Notifications, which I keep simple, for highs, lows, and rapid drops
- Follow
- My spouse is a second pair of eyes on my control
- Clarity
- Tracking, making sure I stay on target regarding GMI and TIR
- GlucoData
- Seeing the numbers on my watch at all times makes a big difference in my control
For general health, and some integration:
- Google Health
- Tracking activity and fitness
- Energy expenditure for managing dietary goals
- Polar Flow
- Workouts, that feed into Google Health
Some features are buried in submenus or more accessible via websites, so I’d like to surface those, as well as automate as much as possible. Where I have gaps:
- Food entry, that I can do from a photo, an if not, easy for entry
- We’ve discussed this and I’ve played around with it successfully, but limited
- It should feed into Google Health, or another app, if I can get a good dashboard
- For the Omnipod, I’d like to have an easy to access Physician’s Report
- Currently online only
- Better blood sugar management for exercise
- For my one-hour Zone 2 workouts, I tend to start high, then replenish with a glucose packet after 20 minutes, so by the time my blood sugar starts dropping, it’s in range.
- Maybe I can calculate better, and replenish more often
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When thinking about an ideal product, it would have to be a backend that aggregates sources, but is generally available and not controlled by one app supplier.
We all use different products, but generally, I would love to be able to pull together these sources:
- Pump
- Sensor
- Food / Diet
- Activity
- Fitness / Workouts
- Body Tracking
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- Weight / Body Fat
- Blood Pressure
- Sleep
Google has Health Connect, which covers most of these items, but it doesn’t include pump data, and its sensor data seems spotty. Depending on how detailed it stores sensor data, and if it is ever possible to get pump data into it, it would enable fine-grained analysis of lifestyle and outcomes, as well as provide a secure but public API for other apps and healthcare-related access.
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You’ve already got a pretty solid setup, but I totally get wanting fewer apps and easier access to the information you actually use. The exercise piece sounds especially worth fine-tuning tracking your glucose trend alongside your workouts could help you figure out when and how much you need to replenish instead of guessing each time.
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I totally get that The last thing most of us need is another app that feels like homework! I’d love to hear which ones people actually find easy to use and worth the extra effort.