Patient Self Management Tools

Patients with chronic illnesses often must manage their conditions at home. They rely on patient self-management tools such as software and electronic devices to keep themselves healthy and to convey health information to medical caregivers over an extended period of time. The cost of these self-management tools comes down as technology improves, and patients use them because they are convenient and save time. Self-management tools also cut down on the number of doctor's visits.

Glucose Meters

• A glucose meter is a patient self-management tool that allows diabetics to monitor their blood glucose levels. A lancet is used to draw a drop of blood from a fingertip or an arm. A test strip is inserted into the meter, which then powers on the meter. The blood drop is deposited on the end of the test strip and the meter reads the blood glucose level. The meter usually turns off when the test strip is removed. These meters can store a high number of blood glucose readings. They also indicate when blood glucose levels are too high or too low to register on the meter. Some glucose meters also come with cables and software that enable the user to track and send his results via computer to a doctor.

Weight Management

• Weight management programs exist online and in the form of software. Typically, these programs provide nutritional data for a comprehensive list of foods. The nutritional data can include the number of calories, grams of protein, fiber, fat and saturated fat and carbohydrates, as well as the percentage of certain vitamins in one serving of a particular food. The weight management program may also provide how many minutes of a certain type of exercise is needed to burn off one serving of that food's calories. A food diary records food and amounts eaten on a daily basis. A weight diary keeps track of pounds lost and regained. An exercise diary tracks how and when a participant exercises. Nutrition counselors provide goal setting advice, and some of these weight management programs have online communities to provide ongoing support and encouragement.

Advice Nurse

• Some health insurance plans provide telephone access to an advice nurse who can answer questions pertaining to current health issues. For example, a patient with a chronic illness can call an advice nurse when she notices usual health symptoms or has taken her medication incorrectly. The advice nurse can outline a patient's options and possibly prevent a costly emergency room visit or an unnecessary visit to the doctor. He can also send the patient resources on how to manage her chronic condition and direct her towards local community support.