Gluco-Log
v.5.0
©2004 Edward Hoad
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.
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.
I welcome your comments and/or
suggestions regarding this program.
Please direct email to: hoads@cogeco.ca
Version History
v.5.0 (
·
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 (
·
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 (
·
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 (
·
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 (
·
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