Gluco-Log v.5.0

©2004 Edward Hoad

 

 

Overview

 

Gluco-Log 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 quickly become a thing of the past!

 

Gluco-Log v.5.0 is unique in that it is the first PalmOS® program that displays test/dosage results horizontally, similar to the paper logbook you may have used previously.  The advantage of this is that it allows you and your doctor to easily identify and address trends in blood sugars.

 

Installation  

 

Important! – Gluco-Log v.3.2 and v.4.0 share the same databases, and either may be installed over the other without losing data. Gluco-Log v.5.0 stores blood sugar records in a different database and cannot update records from prior versions.  It is recommended that users of v.3.2 and v.4.0 print a report or export data prior to installing v.5.0

 

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.5.0 requires devices with Palm® OS 3.5 or higher.  This version runs optimally on the faster processors of Palm® OS 5.0+

 

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 3.5 is recommended.  Gluco-Log v.3.2 has a simpler interface, for those who do not want the added functionality of v.4.0. 

 

The rest of this document pertains to Gluco-Log v.5.0 only. 

 

Using the Program

 

Demo Version

 

This is a fully functional program.  You are, however, restricted from setting the startup form, and limited to the maximum usage of 30 days before registering.  After 30 days 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.

 

First Time Out 

Existing Users - The first time you run Gluco-Log v.5.0 you will be prompted to address records form previous versions of the program.  As stated above, v.5.0 does not use the same blood sugar data as in previous versions.  Please take precautions to print a copy of any old records before deleting them

New Users - Before recording data, select "Options" from the menu bar on the main screen.

Select Options, and:

·         Insulin to add the types of insulin you use

·         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. 

 

Icons

Tap and hold any icon to have its function displayed on the screen.  Lightly slide the stylus away from the icon and lift from the screen to close the description window without having the icon actually perform any action.

Entering Data

Tap the ‘new record’ icon to begin.  You are taken to the “Date” form.  The current date is displayed – this can be edited by tapping the date field, in the event you are entering data for a previous day.  The “Date” form allows data to be recorded for up to 8 events on that day.  Let’s assume you are entering test results for Breakfast.  You have 3 options:

1.                   The Quick Option: Tap the blue arrow to the right of the word “Breakfast”.  This puts a time stamp on the event, pops up a keypad for entering blood sugar, followed by another keypad for insulin.  When you enter the amount of insulin, a list drops down to select the insulin type.  After doing this you may decide to do the 2nd option below.  This is fine to do – the data already entered will be displayed in the detailed record.

1.                   The Detailed Option: Tap the “Lined Paper” icon to the immediate right of the word “Breakfast”.  This puts a time stamp on the event and takes you to the “Breakfast” form.  This form is for entering a detailed event.  This is also the form you must use if taking 2 types of insulin at one event.  The words: Glucose, Insulin 1, Insulin 2, B.P., Carbs, Foods, Pulse, Weight, and Meds are all buttons that activate keypads or dropdown menus, making data entry quick and simple!  You can also enter data manually with the stylus if you prefer.  When listing meds, simply check the box beside each med you have taken.  When you tap the “Home” icon, the list is pasted in the current record.   

2.                   The Not-Recommended Option:  You can enter blood sugar results and insulin dosage manually with the stylus in the fields provided on the “Date” form.  However, this does not put a time stamp on the event and isn’t recommended.  The fields are editable in case you wish to make a change in a record at a later time.

 

Additional Information

Date Form

A black dot appears to the left of the “Lined Paper” icon on the “Date” form when a detailed record of an event exists.

A small number “2” is displayed to the right of the insulin dosage when a second type of insulin has been recorded at the same event.

The total number of units taken includes amounts recorded as a 2nd injection, that are not displayed on the “Date” form.

You can set the “Date” form as the startup form for the program by tapping the menu bar/Edit/Set Startup Form.  This means that each time you run the program, it starts on this form instead of the table form. (Registered users only)

Event Forms (Breakfast, After, Lunch, etc.)

A quick way to add data to the Foods or Meds database: Highlight the text you wish to add as a med or food.  Tap the clipboard icon at the top of the form.  Select the appropriate checkbox and tap “OK”.

Table Form

This is the default startup form.  If you have set the “Date” form as the startup you can change it to the table by tapping the menu bar (while on the table form)/Options/Set Startup Form.

You can change the way data is displayed in the table by tapping the 1st icon (resembles the actual form in miniature). You can select one of 3 options from the dropdown menu.  Each option is explained as selected.

You can view overall averages by selecting the ”Sum” icon (3rd on the table form).

Records can be filtered by date range by tapping the menu bar/Filter/date range.  You will be prompted to enter the filter parameters.  To cancel the date range filter, tap the menu bar/Filter/show all.  You can also delete all records or those within a date range by tapping the menu bar/Options/etc.

 

Exporting Data

 

Blood sugar records 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:

 

Date, followed by time, blood sugar, insulin amount, insulin type, 2nd insulin amount, 2nd insulin type, activity level, carbs, weight, blood pressure, pulse, meds, and food for each event, ending with note.  This totals 106 fields.

 

If you are using a date range to filter records, only those records within the filter parameters will be exported.

           

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 v.5.0 Reports file into the TBViewer window (this file is included in your Gluco-Log file.  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.

Due to the large number of data fields in Gluco-Log v.5.0 I have prepared only 2 reports, which I feel will suit the majority of needs.  If you require a custom report, please contact me at hoads@cogeco.ca.  I will try to accommodate reasonable requests and periodically make them available to all users.

 

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 provide.

 

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

 

 

Version History

 

v.5.0 (July 7, 2004) Requirements: PalmOS 3.5 or higher.  PalmOS 5.0+ recommended

 

·         Hi-res support for PalmOS 5.0+ devices

·         Full Screen/Landscape support for such enabled devices (Tungsten T3, Sony NX series, etc.)

·         Table now displays data similarly to a traditional logbook – easier to see/address trends in blood sugars

·         Table scroll up/down & left/right

·         Table remembers location when accessing individual records(doesn’t default to top)

·         User choice of how data is viewed in table

·         Tap and hold icons for description

·         Date range filter for viewing, exporting, or deleting data

·         Date range filter added to TBReports

·         Improved Carb counter(calculator)

·         New fields added: weight, pulse

·         Method for listing meds improved

·         Drop down list for activity level.

·         User defined startup form (registered users only)

·         Demo version changed from 50 records to 30 days

 

v.4.0 (Nov. 24, 2003) Requirements: 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!

 

 

 

©2004 Edward Hoad