Living with type 1 diabetes means keeping track of a lot of things, from your blood sugar to your diabetes care supplies. On top of that, you might be tracking carbohydrates, trying to figure out when and where and what and how to eat next, and more. While different people make different choices about how to deal with all of this, more and more are choosing to use a phone app, or several apps, to help with diabetes management.

Here are some of the most common apps, or types of apps, so you can get your life organized. These apps can improve your quality of life and your overall sense of well-being. All of the apps mentioned here are available on both Android and iOS for iPhone.

1. The App That Works With Your Continuous Glucose Monitor

Many people choose to use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to monitor their blood sugar regularly without having to poke themselves with a needle. This may also be tied to an insulin pump that delivers doses when you need it.

Many of these devices, especially the CGMs, come with their own apps that record your blood sugar in real time. These record your blood sugar and track it over time. Dr. Laura Levin, a physician specializing in endocrinology at the Northwestern University School of Medicine, finds that these apps are the most useful for her patients living with type 1 diabetes. She said, “The most valuable are probably the continuous glucose monitor apps. Those are telling you constantly what your blood sugar is.”

Some members at myT1Dteam love their glucose monitor apps. One said, “I’m so grateful to my glucose monitor app, which shows me trends that help me understand how my behaviors and different factors affect my levels.”

2. MyFitnessPal

Monitoring carbohydrates is crucial for managing type 1 diabetes, and MyFitnessPal is a popular tool for this purpose. While primarily known as a calorie counter, the app also tracks all your food intake and provides detailed nutritional information. Additionally, it helps with achieving weight-loss goals, monitoring fluid intake, and tracking sleep and steps, plus it sends reminders to eat. Dr. Levin mentioned that MyFitnessPal is widely used among people living with diabetes.

Note that you’ll need to pay to access all the features, such as the barcode scanner for quickly logging food. Many choose it for its extensive food database and additional features, including detailed nutritional information, customizable goals, intermittent-fasting support, and the ability to export data and upload your own recipes.

3. Figwee

Figwee is another app that Dr. Levin sees many people use for carb counting. It helps you keep track of what you eat and learn appropriate portion sizes if that’s something you struggle with. Figwee allows you to search for food and see a photo of a single portion. You can adjust the portion size by moving a slider until it represents what you actually ate. The app also tracks daily activities, including normal movements like cleaning and showering.

If you have trouble estimating carbs on the fly, Figwee can help train your brain to better recognize portion sizes, making it easier to estimate carb counts when you can’t weigh and measure everything. As with MyFitnessPal, there’s a free version and premium version of Figwee. The free version includes a food diary and food library. The premium version adds other features, including complete calorie tracking, health tracking, and activity tracking.

4. Undemyfork

Undermyfork is a food app specifically designed for people who live with diabetes. You take pictures of your food and upload them and also connect the app to your continuous glucose monitor. The app helps you understand how specific meals and foods affect your blood glucose. It also creates graphs and other data that you can share with your diabetes care team. That way, you can talk together to get medical advice and make a plan for moving forward. At least one brand of continuous glucose monitor can send the glucose data directly to Undermyfork to simplify the process. Undermyfork is currently free.

5. mySugr

The mySugr app can hold a lot of your type 1 diabetes data. It can connect to continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps, automatically importing data, or you can manually enter your information. The app allows you to tag entries to note factors like stress or alcohol consumption, helping you see how these impact your blood sugar levels.

Both a free and paid version of the mySugr are available. The paid version calculates basal and bolus insulin doses for insulin pump users, allows you to upload photos of your meals, sends reminders about your blood sugar, and offers challenges that empower you to make the best choices for your type 1 diabetes and your needs.

6. Glucose Buddy

Glucose Buddy is another all-in-one diabetes app and one that Dr. Levin sees people using. You can either connect it to your CGM or upload your data manually if you use a manual blood sugar test kit instead. It offers personalized coaching, based on your glucose and notes about your food that you add. You can get recommendations regarding what to do next. Sometimes, it can also order the supplies that you need, if it knows you're running out. Finally, the app features sharing options so you can keep your health care team in the loop about what is going on with you.

7. Pharmacy Apps

The app for your favorite pharmacy can be an underrated hero when you live with type 1 diabetes. There, you can check when you last picked up medications or supplies, or order more. If you need to contact a health care professional for more, it will tell you or you may be able to send instructions so the pharmacist will do it for you.

If you’re not sure what app to use or how to use it, talk to your pharmacist. They should have someone available who can assist you.

8. Happy Bob

If you’re burned out by type 1 diabetes management or you need some motivation to track your blood sugar levels and respond accordingly, Happy Bob might be able to help. The app adds a “face” to your phone that makes different expressions based on your blood glucose levels. It can connect to a number of CGMs. The goal is to make Bob happy.

Happy Bob can also send you funny messages when your glucose levels are off, and it allows you to connect with friends who also have diabetes. You can earn points based on who spends the most time in range and create competitions. Happy Bob does cost money, but it might be worth it if you need an upbeat, refreshing way to monitor your type 1 diabetes.

Talk With Others Who Understand

At myT1Dteam, you’ll find the social network for people with type 1 diabetes and their loved ones. There, more than 3,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with type 1 diabetes.

Have you found an app that works really well to track your type 1 diabetes? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.