Gluco-Log v.4.0/v.3.2

Overview

Glucolog is an easy, straight forward program that allows you to record and keep track of data crucial to good diabetes management. This data can be viewed/printed from your desktop computer (not Mac compatible) or may be exported in .csv format. That old paper log book will son become a thing of the past!

Installation

Please…read the License Agreement prior to installation.

Select the appropriate file for your device or that best suits your needs, and install as you would any PalmOS® software.

Gluco-Log v.4.0 requires devices with Palm® OS 3.5 or higher.

Gluco-Log v.3.2 requires devices with Palm® OS 3.1 or higher, although OS 3.1 is recommended. Gluco-Log v.3.2 has a slightly simpler interface, for those who do not want the added functionality of v.4.0.

New Users: It is recommended that new users also install the eventDB database file, regardless of which version of the program is installed. This is a simple database of “event” times during the day when blood sugar testing is routinely done: breakfast, mid-morning, lunch, afternoon, dinner, evening, and bedtime. These are fully editable, but provide a good starting point for test times.

All Users: It is fine to interchange versions of the program if you are undecided. No data will be lost or corrupted by installing one over the other. During the installation process you may be prompted to overwrite existing databases. In general, if you are prompted to replace a database with an older or lower version, tap “cancel”. Otherwise, tap “replace”.

Using the Program

Demo Version

This is a fully functional program. You are, however, limited to entering a maximum of 50 records before registering. At this point the program will lock up and remain unusable until registered. Please register (purchase) this software at www.handango.com . Follow this link to go directly to the purchase page.

Please take a moment after the program starts, to familiarize yourself with the icons (see "icon" button on welcome screen). The icon screen can be viewed at any time by tapping the menu bar/Help/View Icons.

First Time Out

Before recording data, select "Options" from the menu bar on the main screen, either by tapping the "droplet" icon, or in older (PalmOS 3.1) devices, by tapping the bottom left silkscreen button.

Select Options, and:

Insulin to add the types of insulin you use
Events to add/edit event times (breakfast, dinner, etc.)
Activities to add activity level or specific activities (walking, jogging, cycling, etc.)
Health to add health factors (sickness, cold, flu, etc.)
Food to add foods you often eat. This can be a real time saver when entering data later
Meds to add prescription or other medications you feel should be recorded.

Entering Data

Gluco-Log is an intuitive program to use.

Tap the ‘new record’ icon to begin. You are immediately prompted to choose the ‘event’ (breakfast, lunch, etc.) for this record. Although you can enter data manually with the stylus, it is much faster to tap the word ‘Glucose’. This activates a keypad for you to enter your blood sugar test result. The words ‘Insulin 1’, ‘Insulin 2’, ‘B.P.’ (blood pressure), and ‘Carbs’ all behave the same way, making data entry extremely quick and easy.

The words, ‘Meds’, ‘Health’, ‘Activity’, and ‘Food’ are similar. These words activate a drop down menu. Whatever you select from the menu(s) are automatically pasted in the fields provided. Populating the drop down menus is possible 2 ways:

Follow the instructions listed above, in “First Time Out”, or
Highlight text you have entered and tap the ‘clipboard’ icon. You will be prompted to check which category to add the text.

NOTE: Fields are provided for 2 types of insulin. When taking only one type, always select ‘Insulin 1’

Comparing Results (v.4.0 only)

Perhaps of greater use to newer diabetics, this feature allows you to compare you current blood sugar reading with other similar reading, within a range you determine. This is done as follows:

Enter your blood sugar reading
Tap the ‘compare’ icon to the right of the blood sugar field (refer to the icon screen if you are unsure)
The first time you compare results only exact matches will be displayed. Tap the +/- button to select a range. The table will refresh and display records based on your selection. For example, if your blood sugar reading is 130 and your +/- range is 10, all records between 120 and 140 will display.
To further refine the comparison, tap the word ’Time”. The records are further filtered 30 minutes prior to, and after the time of your blood sugar reading. To “undo” the time filter, tap the word ‘Glucose’
The +/- range you set is remembered by the program, but can be changed at any time

Exporting Data

Data can be exported to the memo pad as a .csv (comma separated value) file. This is transferred to the desktop during the hot-sync process, can be copied to Notepad and saved as a .txt file. It can be imported into most spreadsheet programs (Excel, Quattro Pro, etc.). The fields are exported in the following order:

Gluco-Log v.4.0: date, time, event, blood sugar, dosage(units), Insulin 1(type), dosage(units), Insulin 2(type), meds, blood pressure, carbs, health, activity, details
Gluco-Log v.3.2: date, time, event, blood sugar, dosage, Insulin 1, dosage, Insulin 2, health, activity, details.

For pc users, the most efficient means of viewing data is by using TBViewer® to read pre-compiled reports, which are included with each version of this program.

TBViewer®

Included with this program are a number of precompiled reports. In order to view or print these reports, you must first have TBViewer installed (TBViewer is not Mac compatible) on your pc. You can download TBViewer here, at no charge. A link is also provided in the Gluco-Log download file.

Installation:

· Click open (or save, if you wish) the tbviewer.zip file, and follow the prompts as it self installs

· Start the TBViewer program, and click File/Open, or the ‘Open’ icon

· Drag the file “Gluco-Log Reports v.4.0” and/or “Gluco-Log Reports v.3.0” file into the TBViewer window (these files are included in your Gluco-Log file. Gluco-Log Reports v.3.0 is for use with Gluco-Log v.3.2)

· Click on the file you have dragged in the window. After a very short pause, a list of reports will be displayed for you to choose. The report titles indicate the content, or additional content for each.

Acknowledgements

My thanks, to the many users of Gluco-Log for their input and suggestions as this product has evolved. Thanks also to the many developers on the PDATnuts&bolts forum, especially Mr. Rick Sands (TBViewer) www.sandsusa.com and Mr. Paul Anderson, for the excellent development tools they continuously provide.

I welcome your comments and/or suggestions regarding this program. Please direct email to: hoads@cogeco.ca

Version History

v.4.0 (Nov. 24, 2003) This version requires PalmOS 3.5 or higher

· main screen now displays averages for: blood sugar, time of test, and insulin dosage

· new fields added to record blood pressure, carbohydrates, and medication

· compare current blood sugar to other similar readings, within a user selected range, and further compare those results to within a 60 minute range.

· new printable reports, including one that will filter by event (breakfast, lunch, etc.)

· updated .csv export fields:date, time, event, blood sugar, dosage, Insulin 1, dosage, Insulin 2, meds, blood pressure, carbs, health, activity, details

v.3.2 (Nov. 24, 2003)

· This is essentially a bug fix, correcting the error generated when attempting to view the icon screen in v.3.1. This version is continued for those users not wishing the extra functionality of v.4.0 and for devices running less than PalmOS 3.5

v.3.1 (June 12, 2003)

· now enter all data on 1 form

· 3 drop-down categories: Health, Activity, and Food. Selected comments from these categories are automatically pasted in the comments field below

· tap clipboard icon to copy selected text to the above categories

· note the words "Glucose", "Insulin 1", and "Insulin 2" - they are actually buttons that activate a keypad, allowing easier entry of data (existing users: no need to reinstall TBReports or TBViewer)

v.3.0 (May 18, 2003)

· easier to navigate

· less cluttered screen - more records can be viewed at one time

· ability to filter results by event and/or date range

· now runs on PalmOS 3.1 - PalmOS 5 devices *PalmOS 3.5 or higher recommended

· alternating table row colors

· bloodsugar average calculated automatically

· record 2 insulin types/dosage per record

· separate fields for activity, health, and notes

· now ONLY ONE file to install!

· conversion from mg/dl to mmol/L and back

· “Panic Button" now records **Low Bloodsugar** and powers off device

· as usual, registered users of previous versions may upgrade at no charge. Users of v.1.0 must contact the developer for a reg. code prior to using v.3.0

v.2.0

· glucose records sorted automatically by most recent.

· view glucose averages directly from the list of glucose results, instead of going to a different screen.

· all drop down menus now directly editable.

· NEW drop down menu to record 'health factors', such as activity level, illness, etc.

· enter readings and make notes all on 1 form - scrollbar added for notes

· PANIC BUTTON!!...this automatically records the current date & time, enters a "Low Blood Sugar" reading, and closes the program for you. You can add notes to this record later if you wish.

· as with Gluco-Log v.1.0, a report writer (TBReports) is included. (pc users only)

· for both Mac and pc users, export records in .csv or .doc format (registered version)

· new look...new icons, and in color

· easier installation!