Making Sure You’re Getting Critical Alerts from Diabetes Apps
Introduction
Patients who use smartphone apps to manage their diabetes could face serious health problems if they miss notifications needed to control their blood sugar, U.S. health officials warned.
The Warning
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received multiple reports of users missing or not hearing important medical alerts from their phones, leading to cases of dangerously low blood sugar and even death. The agency’s warning applies to a growing field of wearable devices that track patients’ sugar levels or automatically deliver insulin.
Common Issues
The FDA warns that certain phone settings, such as pausing notifications, may cause patients to miss critical updates. In other cases, connecting the phone to a new audio source, such as a car stereo, could change the volume of the alerts users are accustomed to hearing.
How to Ensure Proper Functionality
To prevent missing critical alerts, FDA regulators recommend:
Turn off automatic updates on your smartphone until you’ve confirmed the new operating system is compatible with your diabetes app.
After connecting your smartphone to a new accessory, such as Bluetooth headphones, confirm that app alerts are still being delivered and can be heard clearly.
Once a month, double-check that your smartphone’s notification settings haven’t changed.
FDA Regulation of Health Apps
The FDA regulates only some health app features because they don’t pose much risk to consumers if they malfunction, according to regulators. The agency mostly enforces safety requirements on apps that turn smartphones into devices, for example, by monitoring heart rhythms or other critical medical readings.
Conclusion
Patients with diabetes need to be vigilant about ensuring that their glucose-monitoring apps are working properly. By following the recommended steps above, patients can minimize the risk of missing critical alerts and potentially life-threatening situations.
FAQs
- What are the common issues that can cause me to miss critical alerts from my diabetes app?
- Phone settings, such as pausing notifications, or connecting the phone to a new audio source.
- How can I ensure that my diabetes app is working properly?
- Turn off automatic updates, confirm app alerts after connecting new accessories, and regularly check notification settings.
- What types of health apps does the FDA regulate?
- Those that turn smartphones into devices that monitor critical medical readings, such as heart rhythms.
