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Glooko Launches Sleek New Mobile App Design to Make Diabetes Management Easier

Glooko Mobile App RedesignGlooko Mobile App Home Screen for People with Diabetes

​​Today, we launched a sleek new look to the Glooko® Mobile App, which makes it easier for users with diabetes to navigate, organize their data in one place and share their data with their doctor and extended care team. We’ve also streamlined data visualization, so users can seamlessly view all their data at once.

The modern look and feel of the Home screen allows for quick access to the user’s most used actions, including seeing glucose trends, logging medication, and tracking food and exercise.

For new mobile app users getting started with Glooko, we’ve simplified the onboarding process and customized it to fit individual goals.

From easily connecting to their clinics and sharing reports with their care team to using the Quick Add slider to conveniently add food, insulin and exercise, the free Glooko Mobile App, available in the App Store and Google Play Store, goes where people with diabetes go.

Wondering what went into the redesign of our digital health app? We sat down with some of the Glooko team members, including Director of Product Design Amanda Martin, Product Designer Ben Stone and Product Manager Chase Sutton, who worked behind-the-scenes to learn more about the process.

Glooko Product Design Team

What were the goals and motivation behind the Glooko Home screen’s new look? How did you decide what features to highlight in the Home screen?

Glooko Mobile App Health Data for People with DiabetesWhile we always take into account feedback from our users, our team performed extensive research and interviews to see what opportunities existed for changes in the app that would result in the greatest improvements. Through this, we landed on focusing our efforts mostly on the Home screen, the onboarding process for new users, and modernizing the user experience.

In this high-impact space, we reimagined how to display insights for users through side-by-side and detailed charts and graphs with all the pertinent data, including its sources, in one place. We added Quick Add buttons for easily tracking food, insulin, medication and other actions important to people with diabetes.

Through our interviews, we learned that users like to feel connected to their doctors and care teams and view that as a major benefit of Glooko. We wanted our users to have a direct link to them, so we added to the Home screen an easy way to reach and share data with them.

We also learned that we needed to improve the onboarding experience by making it quicker to get started and sync diabetes devices. This process was a hurdle for users in the past and we sought to simplify it in the redesign. There’s now a space on the Home screen for new users who are looking to get started with Glooko.

What are some of the main takeaways from the redesign of the Glooko Mobile App? How will this help current and new users?

For both current and new users of Glooko, the updated navigation on the Home screen helps users access key features more efficiently as the older version had many features tucked away and hard to discover. We put popular features, like food logging and sharing data with care teams, front and center on the Home screen—all available with one scroll and featuring the latest synced data.

For new users, we really wanted to give them an easy onboarding experience. We learned that the earlier version of the Glooko app’s onboarding was somewhat complicated and could be viewed as a turn off for people just joining and looking to take full advantage of our digital health app.

The reimagined onboarding is guided and shows new users what to do in a very organized, “bite-sized” way that allows them to easily complete it at their own pace.

What’s the new onboarding process like? Is it easier and does it have less steps for new users?

We learned through our interviews that the onboarding process definitely needed an overhaul. Users would go to the first step of syncing their device and then never went any further with the process as they found it too difficult. Our takeaway was that we needed to get new users to the Home screen right away.

In the new process, users now start on the Home screen and can complete the onboarding tracker, which includes syncing their device, tracking their insulin and completing their Glooko profile, in any order and timeframe. Users now get to experience all the features of Glooko right out of the gate!

Glooko Onboarding Process for People with Diabetes

How did you take feedback from people living with diabetes when making these changes that improve the experience of the Glooko Mobile App?

Connecting with users and hearing from them is incredibly important to our design process.

We have a human-centered design team, so it was integral that we talked to actual Glooko users to hear their feedback. We took what we learned and brought sketches and concepts for improving the Glooko Mobile App back to them. It’s a cycle that we go through all the time, but one that we really valued in this project.

Our team had some great conversations during this process with users who synced once to those who were very active in the app and constantly logging food. Each user group who provided us with feedback helped inform our decisions in the redesign.

We also used insights from data in the app to verify our theories around user engagement during these interviews.

What’s some of the feedback you’ve received from test users on the new look?

Glooko Mobile App Weekly Overview for People with DiabetesThey’ve all been very excited about the improvements to the Glooko Mobile App.

We’ve received the most feedback about the modern look and feel, responsiveness and colors. Users are also pleased with the personalized way the data is displayed, whether it’s a continuous glucose meter, blood glucose meter or other compatible device.

The simplified, consistent and clean approach to the new experience will continue to resonate with our users—new and existing.

What other changes will be coming in the future to the Glooko Mobile App?

We have an ambitious and exciting roadmap for the mobile app, and much of it is focused on data.

We want users to better understand their overall health, so we’re looking to develop innovative and detailed charts and graphs to enable the next-generation of diabetes insights. These new data insights will give people with diabetes and their care teams the ability to make smarter decisions to improve their health.

Additionally, we’ll introduce personalized nudges that will help encourage behavior change and guide users to better lifestyle decisions in the coming future.

While all these future upgrades are very exciting, we’re giving both people with diabetes and their doctors the ability to see the power of Glooko and what connected care really is in our new reimagined version today.

The Glooko app is now available in the App Store and Google Play Store.

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Insulet’s Omnipod 5 Compatible with Glooko

Glooko Insulet Omnipod 5

Glooko is excited to share that our digital health platform for people with diabetes and related chronic conditions is compatible in the United States with Insulet Corporation’s Omnipod® 5 Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) System.

The automated insulin delivery system, which is composed of the Omnipod 5 App, the Pod and has Dexcom® G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) System integration, received FDA clearance for use by individuals ages 2 and older with type 1 diabetes in 2022.

As the first tubeless AID system with smartphone control* in the U.S., Omnipod 5 integrates with the Dexcom G6 CGM System to automatically adjust insulin, help protect against highs and lows in glucose levels**, and simplify life for people with diabetes. The system’s innovative Pod uses SmartAdjust™ technology that continuously and automatically regulates insulin delivery based on a patient’s customized Target Glucose.

“With the many benefits provided by the Omnipod 5, we’re thrilled it’s compatible and available to Glooko users in the U.S.,” said David Conn, Glooko’s Executive Vice President of Partnerships and Alliances. “Our partnership with Insulet allowed us to be compatible from launch with this innovative new AID system designed for people looking to better manage their diabetes.”

Through our integration with Insulet, patients using the Omnipod 5 can connect their system to Glooko and upload their data from home via a cloud connection, expediting the time spent with healthcare providers. Healthcare providers can review the data uploaded and view standardized, comprehensive reports in the Glooko dashboard to help gain insights and make decisions to optimize care.

“The team at Insulet appreciates the support Glooko provided to make the launch of the Omnipod 5 possible and successful,” said Dr. Trang Ly, MBBS, FRACP, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Medical Director, Insulet. “This System has been life-changing for so many people living with type I diabetes and we look forward to continuing to see its impact.”

Along with the Omnipod 5, the Glooko platform is also compatible with Insulet Corporation’s Omnipod DASH®.

At Glooko, we’re continuously increasing the number of devices that are compatible with our digital health platform, and over 3 million users around the globe have benefited in managing their health with our tools. We’re currently compatible with a majority of global diabetes and health monitoring devices on the market, which gives patients and their healthcare providers flexibility in managing their diabetes and related chronic conditions.

*For a list of compatible smartphone devices visit omnipod.com/compatibility

**Study in 240 people with T1D aged 6 – 70 years involving 2 weeks standard diabetes therapy followed by 3 months Omnipod 5 use in Automated Mode. Average time with high blood glucose in adults/adolescents and children, standard therapy vs. 3-month Omnipod 5: 32.4% vs. 24.7%; 45.3% vs. 30.2%. Median time with low blood glucose in adults/adolescents and children, standard therapy vs. 3-mo Omnipod 5: 2.0% vs. 1.1%; 1.4% vs. 1.5%. Brown et al. Diabetes Care (2021).

Study in 80 people with T1D aged 2 – 5.9 years involving 2 weeks standard diabetes therapy followed by 3 months Omnipod 5 use in Automated Mode. Average time in Target Glucose range (from CGM) for standard therapy vs Omnipod 5 = 57.2% vs. 68.1%. Average time in Target Glucose range (12AM -< 6AM) from CGM in standard therapy vs. Omnipod 5 = 58.2% vs 81.0%. Average A1c in standard therapy vs. Omnipod 5 = 7.4% vs. 6.9%. Median time with low blood glucose from CGM: standard therapy = 3.43% vs. 2.46%. Sherr JL, et al. Diabetes Care (2022).

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Glooko Mobile App Simplifies Tracking Food Intake for People with Diabetes

Glooko Mobile App Food Tracker for Diabetes

​​Tracking Food Intake in the Glooko Mobile App for DiabetesFood is a critical component in the management of diabetes.

​​People with diabetes can use the Glooko mobile app, available in the App Store and Google Play Store, to easily log their food intake and keep a historical account of how food affects their chronic condition.

The data from daily meals can be viewed alongside data from compatible diabetes and health monitoring devices, medications and insulin to reveal trends and patterns to better understand what is affecting a person’s diabetes

Tracking food consumption in our digital health app can be handled in multiple different ways, including by searching the food database, using voice capture or scanning a barcode.

The Food Tracker in the Glooko Mobile App for DiabetesThe Glooko mobile app simplifies tracking food consumption while allowing users to explore nutrition facts, including carbohydrates, calories, fats and proteins.

Frequent users of the food tracker can also create personalized custom food entries of their favorite meals, so they don’t need to re-add portions multiple times.

“The food tracker feature in our mobile app allows users to see how the food they’re consuming each day may affect their diabetes,” said Glooko Chief Product Officer Ed Marshall. “Being able to see all the data in one place gives users the ability to understand how they’re doing and make informed decisions about their health.”

Glooko Food Tracker for Diabetes

The Glooko mobile app and its food tracker feature is also constantly evolving to meet the needs of our global users.

To better support users in the U.K., France, Germany and Spain last year, we added unique regional food items that are searchable in British English, French, German and Spanish to our connected care app.

For handy ways on how to use the food tracker, follow along with healthy eating and living tips from Glooko’s resident dietitian, Bridget Wood, RD, LD, CDCES.

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Conquer the Holidays While Living with Diabetes with Tips from Glooko’s Registered Dietitian

Glooko Diabetes Holidays Eatings Tips

Bridget Wood, RD, LD, CDCESThe holidays have always been one of my favorite times of the year. For me, it always involves family and friends coming together surrounded by my favorite thing—food!

After I was diagnosed with type one diabetes, it still remained my favorite season. The love has never gone away or changed, but the role my diabetes plays definitely has.

I’ve gone from the out of sight out of mind approach to having low carb alternatives for every holiday meal to finally being able to both enjoy the holidays and be able to be mindful of my numbers. You can try all of the tips below or even just choose one at a time until you feel like you’ve mastered it!

Be Mindful of Movement

Holiday Yoga GlookoIt’s difficult to prioritize movement in the colder months, but it really can be one of the best tools you can use to help keep your numbers in range. Physical activity can not only be a great way to get a change of scenery with your loved ones, but can help with lowering any insulin resistance that may be occurring from any high fat and high carb meals you’re having.

It can also help with digestion and to supercharge any insulin on board you have for a meal or stubborn high blood sugar.

Have a Plan

Just like with any special event and your diabetes, you want to have a plan. Diabetes is not one size fits all—and neither will be your approach to the holidays!

If you know the menu, you can try and plan a dosing strategy or bring a dish or entree that you have experience successfully dosing for to ensure you’ll have a safe option. Some people like to trial foods prior to the holiday, so they are prepared when the actual holiday comes. You can also use the Glooko food tracker combined with your glucose data in our digital health app to do this or to help you come up with a dosing strategy.

Others like to just go along with their day as usual and use it as a future learning tool for holidays and festive parties. The important thing to remember is that despite the outcome—you aren’t a failure! It is just one day, one time of the year, and tomorrow is a new day.

Perfect your Plate

The plate planning method is a great tool to use when planning meals all year round, but especially during the holidays!

By making sure you’re balancing your plate, you’re combining the carbohydrates you’re consuming with the protein and fat in the meal to create a great outcome when it comes to how your body is digesting the food. When we “clothe the carbohydrates,” we can help to reduce spiking post meals. With that being said, too much of an item can delay digestion too much and create spiking hours later, so aim for ¼ plate protein, ¼ plate carbohydrates and the remainder being a vegetable.

Here’s a pro tip: Try to aim for vegetables with a higher fiber content for a boost in blood sugar stabilization and minimize spikes.

Use Helpful Diabetes Tools

Glooko Food Tracker HolidaysTechnology can be our best friend when it comes to tackling the holidays.

Don’t forget to use the food tracking feature in the Glooko mobile app to help you figure out the best carbohydrate amounts for your meals. Try to look items up ahead of time so that you’re prepared going into your meal. You can even go back and review your data after the holidays have passed so that you can make adjustments to your plan.

A fitness tracker can help you see your activity levels and be a gentle reminder to increase your movement if you’re dealing with stubborn highs. Many different fitness devices are even compatible with Glooko, which by connecting your device allows you to see all your data in one place.

Remember, it’s only Temporary!

Double Chocolate Chia Pudding GlookoIt’s just one day or one season.

Blood sugar spikes can happen any time, but the holidays and time spent with your family do not. Blood sugars are going to fluctuate during the day regardless and sometimes the added stress of worrying about blood sugars can make any insulin resistance you’re experiencing from decreased movement worse.

And if you’re looking for a tasty treat that is blood sugar friendly, I’ve got one for you! This chocolate chia pudding can do triple duty as a breakfast item, snack or even a dessert! Chia seeds have a low impact on blood sugar levels (thanks to lots of fiber!) and can be extremely filling for a small amount. Some people don’t like the texture, which is understandable! You can get around this by blending it up until it is smooth.

Double Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe (PDF)

No matter the outcome of your festive treat feats—I hope you have a happy holiday season and find the food tracker feature in Glooko helpful in all your holiday food adventures!

See you next year!

Bridget Wood, RD, LD, CDCES

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Tackling Blood Sugar Challenging Foods with Glooko’s Registered Dietitian During Diabetes Month

Glooko Blood Sugar Challenging Foods Diabetes Month

Bridget Wood, RD, LD, CDCESAs your friendly neighborhood registered dietitian nutritionist, diabetes educator and type one diabetes buddy, I couldn’t possibly write this post without saying Happy National Diabetes Awareness Month! While the intent of the month is to bring awareness to diabetes and what it means to be living with the illness, I want to take this time to celebrate our community.

Whether you’re someone living with diabetes or a caregiver of someone with diabetes—give yourself a pat on the back. It isn’t easy living with this chronic illness, yet we wake up every day to face it and whatever else comes along our way. In case someone hasn’t said it lately, you’re doing a fantastic job!

With that being said, let’s dive deeper into some foods that are notorious for causing blood sugar spikes. I like to start off discussions like these with a few disclaimers.

First things first, this post is not meant to be a substitute for medical advice. Please contact your own healthcare provider to obtain personalized care. Second, if you are someone who utilizes medication to manage your diabetes and are struggling with keeping numbers in range, taking your medication as prescribed, carb counting to the best of your ability, and using more advanced insulin dosing strategies to cover your meals (for those on insulin), you may need to discuss this with your provider. At times, there can be a lot of blame and emphasis placed on the food we are consuming when it could potentially be a medication mismatch. Lastly, everyone is different. My diabetes is not your diabetes and vice versa. Some foods may just impact you differently!

In previous blog posts, I’ve mentioned the benefits of fruits and vegetables for people living with diabetes. By simply adding more of these to your plate at mealtimes (of course with taking the carbohydrate amounts into account for those on insulin), you can help improve the way your body handles some of the more challenging foods. Alternatively, by adding some of the foods that help keep your blood sugars in range like fruits and starchy vegetables, you can help transform the way your body handles these foods as well.

Sometimes when we think of planning meals, an emphasis is placed on taking away when it really should be placed on adding nourishing and nutrient dense foods to some of the dishes we already know and love. That being said, let’s jump in and take a look at some of the more challenging foods we encounter as people living with diabetes and ways to make them a little easier to manage!

Pizza

Pizza with Glooko App's Food TrackerIf you were to ask any person living with diabetes what food gives them the most trouble, 9 times out of 10 they would likely reply with pizza!

Even though pizza has all of the pieces of the puzzle “necessary” to promote balanced blood sugars, like protein and fat, it has carbohydrates and fats to make it challenging.

Even still, pizza is not off limits for people living with diabetes.

When choosing your slice, take into consideration things like crust styles. By choosing a thinner crust, you’re able to reduce the amount of carbohydrates, which can reduce impact on blood sugars and minimize those pesky spikes that occur hours later due to the high fat content delaying digestion.

Another alternative that can be used are crusts made with alternative flours, such as cauliflower and broccoli, as these ideally would have a lower glycemic impact and higher amount of fiber to help with blood sugar stabilization. While these could be great solutions, there are several things to take into consideration.

Alternative crusts can have just as much carbohydrates from being mixed with higher glycemic flours like rice flour and even more saturated fats from the cheese that is used to bind the crust together. They also tend to have more sodium due to having extra cheese in the crust in addition to the traditional pizza toppings like pepperoni, olives and cheese, which could cause increased blood pressure levels and dehydration (which can negatively impact blood sugars). Like with traditional pizza, you still have to be mindful of portion sizes when consuming these types of pizzas.

Pizza can have multiple sources of high fat proteins that can further delay the pizza’s digestion. Reducing the amount of these by adding more veggies to your slice or choosing leaner meats can help make the blood sugar response more ideal. Choose options such as onions, peppers, garlic, mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes and arugula as “pickled” items like olives, pepperoncini peppers and artichokes will have more sodium.

When consuming pizza, increasing movement post meals can not only help your body use the insulin you are producing or injecting better, but can also help speed along digestion. If you have not discussed any advanced dosing strategies with your provider, I strongly recommend doing so. A strategy like using an extended bolus feature would allow you to take a portion of your insulin prior to the meal to cover the initial spike, but also allows you to take the rest of your insulin slowly over a certain amount of time.

Pasta

Plant-Based Meat Sauce & RotiniAs a diabetes care and education specialist, I would say pasta is one of the main concerns from my clients and rightfully so!

Typically, pasta dishes can have a lot of carbohydrates due to large portions and less ingredients such as protein, which helps slow down the digestion of the carbohydrates. Nevertheless, pasta is ALSO something that can be enjoyed by people living with diabetes. Like pizza, it’s about identifying the best strategy that works for you and is the most sustainable.

When it comes to vegetable pastas (zucchini and kohlrabi are some of my personal favorites), they can be beneficial to people living with diabetes for several reasons, including the lower carbohydrate and higher fiber. They can also be a great way to lower caloric intake for those focusing on weight management.

While a fantastic swap, it’s important to realize that these are not going to taste like traditional pastas. If you’re someone who doesn’t consume higher amounts of fiber on a regular basis, eating a huge plate of vegetables may cause stomach upset, which can cause some who try it to never try again. A way to fix this can be simply swapping out ⅓-½ of your traditional pasta for a veggie based one or more veggies.

Pastas made from legumes like beans and lentils often have high amounts of fiber and protein. With this being said, there are a few things to remember when it comes to these as well.

  • They don’t taste like traditional pasta. They can often be more dense, which some people may dislike.

  • They still have carbohydrates! As stated in previous posts, carbohydrates aren’t bad, but it is important to be mindful of portion sizes when planning meals as they will have the most impact on blood sugar levels. At times, people equate these alternative versions of foods as “healthier” and increase their portion sizes without being aware that it can still cause blood sugar to spike.

  • These are typically more expensive than traditional pastas.

Traditional pasta was one of the foods I didn’t eat for years post-diagnosis. It wasn’t until my education and the emergence of the technology that we have now, that I was able to revisit pasta. Successful ways to consume traditional pasta are adding more vegetables, lowering the amount of fat oils, butter, cheese sauces and meat sauces and monitoring portion sizes. If you’re dining out, combining these methods with your best dosing and movement strategy can help as well.

And one of my favorite ways to eat plant-based is pasta! You can get creative with your ingredients and make it as simple or complicated as you like. By incorporating a high fiber protein pasta, you are able to further amplify the blood sugar friendly benefits of the veggies.

While this recipe below is definitely intermediate to advanced, you can achieve a similar result by simply sauteing fresh mushrooms and adding them into already prepared store bought pasta sauce.

Download a Plant-Based Meat Sauce & Rotini Recipe (PDF)

Oatmeal

OatmealOatmeal is often touted as one of the “best” foods for people living with diabetes. It has a high amount of fiber and is a source of prebiotics. Prebiotics act as fuel for our good gut bacteria and have been shown in studies to potentially aid with glycemic control. It is also one of the more common foods that my clients have found challenging.

Similar to the foods mentioned above, the type of oatmeal and how you combine it with other foods determines your blood sugar response. Instant oats are more convenient, but are more processed which results in less fiber. They also can have more added sugar, which combined with lower fiber can lead to a spike in sugars.

Adding things like nuts, seeds, nut butters and protein packed Icelandic and Greek style yogurts can help to slow down digestion and keep you fueled longer than consuming two packets (which will double the carbohydrate). You can also choose an unsweetened or lower sugar instant oatmeal and control the amount of added sugar portion by adding your own dried fruits or fresh fruit.

Choosing less processed oat forms, such as steel cut oats and groats, will have a much higher fiber content than the instant and rolled oat form. These fiber filled types can be cooked or prepared ahead of time and chilled as overnight oats.

Now, you see why these foods are challenging and ways to make them a bit more manageable. Once you’re able to identify the blood sugar raising factors like high fat content, high added sugar content and low fiber content in these foods, you’ll be able to apply these diabetes detective tools to other foods that cause similar responses like desserts and foods when you are dining out.

Be sure to tag @Glooko or myself (@BalancedWithBridgetWood) on Instagram, and use the hashtags, #BetterTogether and #BalancedWithBridgetWood, in all of your blood-sugar-challenging to blood-sugar-balancing meal transformations!

Your Friend in Food,

Bridget Wood, RD, LD, CDCES

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Mission-Driven Head of Support Helps Enhance Glooko Platform and App

Living with Diabetes Team Glooko Phil

In honor of American Diabetes Month, we’re sharing stories of Team Glooko members who are living with diabetes or helping a family member who is impacted by the chronic condition.

On September 11, 2001, Phil Krieg, the global head of customer support and supply chain for Glooko, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

While he’s only been at our connected care company for two years, he had always wanted to work at Glooko and was passionate about joining to further our mission since he’s been a long-time user of our app.

In his role, he works directly with people with diabetes and in many situations, the parents of children with diabetes, to help solve their issues. In these moments, it can be an especially scary time for parents.

“Empathy is key in my position,” said Phil. “I work closely with the users I’m supporting to work through any problems they’re facing as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Leading the support team from California, he’s able to easily collect and share feedback from customers on the design of Glooko with the product development team, who is always willing to take new ideas and work them into fruition to further enhance the connected care solution.

And as one of the many people on Team Glooko living with diabetes who uses the mobile app on a daily basis, his mission-driven nature goes into the product design as well.

“I’m always looking for ways to improve our app and make it better for users, like myself,” said Phil.

Hear his story.

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Glooko: A Career Path and Tool for Managing his Daughter’s Diabetes

Glooko Living with Diabetes Patrick

In honor of American Diabetes Month, we’re sharing stories of Team Glooko members who are living with diabetes or helping a family member who is impacted by the chronic condition.

As a senior account manager at Glooko for the past 2.5 years, Patrick Watkins has helped hospital systems, healthcare providers and clinics maximize their functionality and take full advantage of what our digital health platform has to offer their patients with diabetes and related chronic conditions.

While Patrick himself isn’t living with diabetes, his daughter, Nuala, has been living with type 1 diabetes for over six years. Through the use of a closed loop system, the Glooko app and telehealth appointments, Patrick and his wife keep Nuala safe and healthy like any other child.

The duo, who act as JDRF ambassadors, are also dedicated to ensuring that other families know that their child, newly diagnosed with diabetes, will lead a healthy life and acclimate to living with the condition.

In Patrick’s role at our connected care company, he’s able to understand what his customers are faced with from both the patient and caregiver perspective due to his experiences at home. He’s also able to synthesize the various needs of providers, people with diabetes and caregivers to our product development team and ensure the best experience for all users of our app and platform.

“I really appreciate working at Glooko and being among so many people with diabetes,” said Patrick. “It’s a special place since so many people have the insights from using the app in their daily lives, so they’re constantly able to help build an even better product.”

Listen to his story.

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Collaboration and Advocacy Define Hadley’s Experience Living with Type 1 Diabetes

Team Glooko Diabetes Month Hadley

In honor of American Diabetes Month, we’re sharing stories of Team Glooko members who are living with diabetes or helping a family member who is impacted by the chronic condition.

Hadley Horton, a partner manager at Glooko, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in November of 2009.

When she’s not staying active to keep her blood sugar stabilized, she acts as an advocate for people with diabetes. She believes those with diabetes understand and are aware what it means to live with the condition best. In the past, she’s mentored youth with diabetes and their peers to remind them they’ll lead a normal life just like she has.

Based in Denver, Colorado, her role at our connected care company allows her to collaborate with teams across Glooko and our partner, Insulet, on how to expand and improve our digital health platform.

“In order to have a successful partnership, you need to work with everyone from product developers to patients,” said Hadley. “My role has given me a new perspective into the digital therapeutics space, as well as understanding of the broader diabetes industry.”

With her knowledge from working alongside partner companies, living with diabetes and using the Omnipod 5 in her daily life, she’s able to lend valuable insights into the continuous development of the Glooko app to enhance our product for users around the world.

Listen to her story.

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Health Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet for People Living with Diabetes from Glooko’s Registered Dietitian for Vegetarian Awareness Month

Glooko Bridget Wood Vegetarian Awareness Month

Bridget Wood, RD, LD, CDCESOctober is one of my favorite months for many reasons—the leaves changing, the fall themed treats and eats, the cooler weather and spooky activities. It also happens to be Vegetarian Awareness Month!

While I am not someone who practices vegetarian or veganism, I have an appreciation for vegetarian and vegan dishes, and include them in my diet regularly. These meals are not only delicious, but can also be super nutritious as you can get the benefits that come from consuming veggies.

Before we jump into how eating more plants can positively impact your diabetes care, I want to go over the definitions of vegan, vegetarian and plant-based eating.

Veganism is accepted to mean that a person does not eat any form of animal product (no dairy, eggs, meat, etc.) and only consumes plants (fruits and vegetables, but also nuts, seeds, oils, whole grains, legumes and beans).

Vegetarians are people who will not eat meat, but may eat other animal products like dairy or eggs.

Woman Tracking Food in Glooko Mobile AppPlant-based, a more recent term, can mean something different depending on who you ask (some use it interchangeably with veganism). The nutrition field recognizes plant-based eating as putting a focus on consuming plants. This could mean that a person who eats plant-based consumes meat or animal products from time to time.

If you’re looking to get the benefits that come from vegetarian and vegan diets, but not ready to make a significant lifestyle change, you can just simply…eat more plants!

Studies have shown that a diet that includes plant-based whole foods (a variety of vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes) can be one of the methods used to help physicians, registered dietitians and patients address the chronic lifestyle diseases that are so prevalent today.

A plant-based diet is not only considered to be packed with nutrients such as fiber, healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals, but it also can be a great lifestyle for those living with diabetes due to its health benefits.

Improved Kidney Function

Despite common misconceptions, a plant-based diet can be beneficial to most people living with diabetes, including those with kidney disease (Be sure to always discuss with your own registered dietitian and physician team to determine the best lifestyle for you).

Recent studies of patients who receive dialysis showed that those who followed a plant-based diet had less protein in their urine, lower inflammation and blood pressure, decreased risk for heart disease and were able to use their insulin better. There is also another study that found individuals who have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), a condition in which the kidneys are unable to filter properly, had a 23% lower mortality risk for every 33% increase in plant to total protein consumption.

Additionally, plant-based diets can help patients with CKD who are of higher weight and suffer from other conditions, like high blood pressure, relieve some of the extra stress on their kidneys. For people living with diabetes, a lowered risk for heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke can often help with delaying complications such as CKD or even preventing them (when paired with optimal time in range).

Improved Cholesterol and Heart Health

In previous blog posts, I’ve discussed fats and their impacts on health, in particular heart health.

While animal products are known to have higher amounts of saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol (Remember to think of consuming less of these types of fats!), plants are naturally very low in these items and can actually improve cholesterol and lower risks of heart disease.

Plants are high in soluble fiber, the type that helps to lower cholesterol by slowing the absorption of the cholesterol consumed and reducing the amount of cholesterol the liver produces. With that being said, it is important to be mindful of the entire picture when it comes to food. The other “accessory” items in your meals could impact these health benefits if consumed in excess (i.e., using three sticks of butter to sauté a crown of broccoli).

Improved Insulin Sensitivity

Glooko Blood Glucose ReadingWhile insulin resistance means that your body is unable to use insulin properly or as well as it should, insulin sensitivity is basically the reverse of this. When your insulin sensitivity is improved, it can lead to a reduction in the amount of insulin needed to manage your numbers and can improve the way that your body uses insulin (whether you are injecting insulin, using a pump, or producing insulin on your own).

You will probably grow extremely tired of me mentioning fiber, but I cannot stress how much of a difference having the appropriate amount of fiber in your diet can improve your health overall. By eating more plants, you are providing your gut microbiome with the fuel it needs to perform optimally and ensure a balanced “gut.” The gut microbiome has been studied and has been said to reduce risks of certain diseases and have an impact on their management.

Studies have also shown that eating more plants can be anti-inflammatory and in some cases impact the insulin resistance this way. Saturated fats can impact insulin signaling in muscles due to the accumulation of certain free fatty acids, which can increase insulin resistance. By consuming more plants in your diet, you are reducing the intake of saturated fats, which are found mostly in animal products, and increasing the intake of monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. The research shows that when replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats (mono and poly), you can reduce your inflammation and increase your insulin sensitivity.

Now that we have dived deeper into just SOME of the fantastic things plant-based eating can do for you, I do want to also give you fair warning!

People initially tend to think that they have to go out and purchase all of the latest and greatest plant-based pre-packaged foods and that is not the case. In fact, certain foods that are marketed in this way can be just as high in saturated fat, sodium and calories as the animal-product version. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Something as simple as aiming for at least ⅔ of your plate as veggies can help to provide you the same benefits. Plant-based eating isn’t another diet, it is a lifestyle change. I realize we all have heard that phrase a million times, but this time it seems to be most true. There are no restrictions, just an emphasis on making the plants the star of the show!

Glooko Recipe for Air Fryer Blistered Shishito PeppersOne easy way to begin your journey to plant-based eating is by adding more plants at meal times (or potentially snack time!). The recipe below for Air Fryer Blistered Shishito Peppers helps you to reach that goal, with minimal prep and virtually no cook time at all. I experiment with different toppings each time I make this and it never disappoints. It can be made in the air fryer, skillet, or cast iron.

Air Fryer Blistered Shishito Peppers Recipe (PDF)

Starting on a new eating journey can be overwhelming, but just start off by simple changes like increasing veggie intake by ¼ cup every couple of weeks. As you begin to eat more of these plant-based foods, be sure to use the Glooko mobile app’s food tracker feature to log your intake. You’ll be a plant-based eating pro in no time!

Don’t forget to tag @Glooko or myself (@BalancedWithBridgetWood) on Instagram, and use the hashtags, #BetterTogether and #BalancedWithBridgetWood, in all of your creations!

Your Friend in Food,

Bridget Wood, RD, LD, CDCES

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Celebrate Food Literacy Month with Healthy Meal Planning Tips from Glooko’s Registered Dietitian

Glooko Healthy Eating Tips with Bridget Wood

Bridget Wood, RD, LD, CDCESIt’s hard to believe that August has already come and gone, and we’re already into the fall season! Where does the time go?

September is one of my favorite months for multiple reasons, but did you know that September is Food Literacy Month in California (the global headquarters of Glooko!), Washington and Canada. I thought this post would be the perfect opportunity to discuss how to navigate nutrition when you’re attempting to plan your meals for the day or the week!

You’re probably wondering…what does food literacy even mean? Never fear, your neighborhood registered dietitian is here to help!

Food literacy is defined by the Food Literacy Center as: “understanding the impact of your food choices on your health, the environment, and our economy.”

Our food system is linked to things such as climate change, lack of food access, issues with food safety concerns and certain health issues among other concerns. While I won’t discuss all of these today, I wanted to equip you with the best tools, so you know what to look out for when you’re eating deliciously and nutritiously!

READING NUTRITION FACTS LABELS

Nutrition Facts LabelThere is so much information on a Nutrition Facts Label that it can be overwhelming!

While all of the information can be useful in planning meals, the easiest place to start when trying to interpret labels is the Daily Value (DV) column. 20% or higher of an item means that it is high in that item, and 5% or less of an item means that it is low in that item.

For example, you would want to aim for items that are 20% or higher in fiber, vitamin D, calcium and potassium, and you would want to aim for items that are 5% or less in saturated fats, sodium, and added sugars as they are more likely to cause health issues when consumed in excess. Although there are many items mentioned above, I believe in starting off slowly when you are changing habits as it will help you to stick with the changes versus trying and going back to old behaviors!

Let’s start off with sodium, sugars and fiber—once you feel like you’ve mastered that, feel free to include the others as well!

Sodium

Sodium is often used interchangeably with salt and helps to flavor our foods. It can also act as a preservative and binder in certain recipes.

Sodium is needed by the body to perform certain bodily functions, such as helping our muscles contract, helping our nerves carry messages through our body to our brains, balancing our bodies fluid levels and regulating our blood pressure. The unfortunate reality is that we only need a tiny amount to do these and the typical diet we often get too MUCH. High sodium intake over time can lead to high blood pressure, which can then result in heart attack and/or stroke. High blood pressure can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and uncontrolled diabetes over a long period of time can increase your risk of high blood pressure and other complications.

Glooko Food Tracker Featured with BroccoliThe 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that most Americans (your levels may vary and be less depending on your own health conditions, check with your Registered Dietitian and Doctor to determine the appropriate level for you) intake be less than 2,300 mg of sodium each day in order to lower risks for developing high blood pressure. This may seem like a lot, but that equates to approximately 1 teaspoon! It is said that approximately 90% of Americans 2 years old or older consume too much sodium and that average sodium intake is MORE than 3,400 mg a day for Americans.

While things like preparing meals at home, monitoring portion sizes of processed foods and flavoring foods with other ingredients, including spices, onions and garlic, can all work together to reduce your sodium intake, you can also read Nutrition Facts Labels (or use the food tracker in the Glooko mobile app) to help lower your sodium consumption.

Sugars

Sugars get a bad rap, but it isn’t all bad. Glucose, a form of sugar, is one of our body’s main fuel sources and gives us energy to do our day-to-day activities. However, just like with sodium, too much sugar over time can put you at risk for chronic diseases, like heart disease, fatty liver disease and insulin resistance that can increase your risk for type 2 diabetes. Being mindful about your sugar intake can be important for people living with diabetes as it can help to reduce the risks of these diseases but also can help to reduce spiking of your blood sugar levels.

It is recommended that we consume no more than 200 calories from added sugars daily, which is equal to roughly 12 teaspoons. Added sugars—not to be confused with natural sugars—can be found in things like sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets, like desserts, pastries, sugary snacks and candies. Other foods containing sugars, like fruit, are encouraged as they are more nutrient dense and provide additional benefits such as vitamins and fiber. You can use these to sweeten your foods naturally, while others may choose to use sugar substitutes to help with managing your blood sugar levels. Whichever you choose, you are lowering your added sugar consumption along the way!

Glooko Baked Ricotta RecipeAim to include fruit in meals or snacks to get the benefits mentioned above. You can even go one step further and reduce your food waste by using your food scraps in recipes and compost for your garden!

Try out this delicious baked sweet ricotta recipe that is low in added sugars!

These individual baked ricottas are a low carb and quick cheesecake-like snack or dessert that you can make in minutes! They have no added sugar and are packed with protein to help keep you satiated and stabilize your blood sugars all while satisfying your sweet tooth.

Download a recipe for Baked Sweet Ricotta (PDF)

Fiber

Fiber, another form of carbohydrate or sugar can actually be beneficial to your health and is an item that you are encouraged to eat more of!

Fiber can help keep you regular, aid with stabilizing blood sugar levels, is a helpful tool in weight management and can help to keep you fueled for longer than without. It is found in natural sugar sources such as fruits, but is also found in things such as vegetables, whole grains, seeds, nuts and legumes. If you are unable to consume enough fiber through food first, feel free to add a supplement to your daily routine. You can even try tricks like adding ground psyllium husks to your typical baked treats to give it a little extra fiber boost! The addition of the fiber is beneficial for those of us living with diabetes (and for those of us who aren’t!) as it will slow down the digestion of your food and help with keeping your blood sugar levels more stable!

All of that to say—it’s not all or nothing. It’s not necessarily about eliminating the foods that you want to aim for less of, but about adjusting them to fit and pairing them with more nutrient dense choices.

If you are consuming something that has 52% DV of sodium, try and be mindful of the portion that you’re consuming, or simply adjust what you’re consuming later in the day, so that you don’t feel like you are restricting or missing out. All food can fit in your diet. It’s truly about the bigger picture and adding in those nutrient dense foods with fiber and vitamins. You can even make it a challenge to eat MORE of those foods.

Glooko App Voice Capture FeatureYou can track your intake easily with the voice capture feature in the Glooko mobile app to truly get an idea of how much you really are consuming of those items.

So there you have it, some homework to take with you on your next trip to the grocery store! Try to increase your intake of foods rich in fiber, vitamin D, protein, and calcium that you want to aim high for and decrease the portions you consume of things full of sodium, salt, and saturated fats that you want to aim for less of.

Don’t forget to tag @Glooko or myself (@BalancedWithBridgetWood) on Instagram, and use the hashtags, #BetterTogether and #BalancedWithBridgetWood, in all of your creations!

Your Friend in Food,

Bridget Wood, RD, LD, CDCES

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