HelpAround http://helparound.co, the creator of Diabetes Helpers peer-to-peer support network has just launched “Alert”, the first health app to act in real-time on incoming Apple HealthKit data. When used on an Apple iOS device, access is granted to HealthKit’s blood glucose data.
The user is notified to send an alert when an incoming glucose reading is outside of a predefined range. The new Alert app also provides a service that allows anyone to locate diabetes helpers in their immediate area.
In addition, Alert lets users with any chronic condition that is in physical or emotional distress to manually alert and conference in their most trusted contacts, so it is then possible to troubleshoot the situation together.
“With Diabetes Helpers, we see thousands of strangers stepping up to help each other, but we also have learned how much fear our users cope with,” said Yishai Knobel, HelpAround Founder and CEO. “We recognized that in times of trouble, it is imperative for anyone to be able to easily reach the most trusted people in their lives.”
The developers of Alert considered a wide range of chronic conditions and allergies for the service. Having run mHealth for diabetes technology company AgaMatrix, Knobel knew that as blood sugar drops, fine motor skills deteriorate, and thinking can become muddled. This makes it difficult to properly navigate a smartphone.
After the Alert app is launched, the user can create an alert either by shaking the phone or tapping a single large red alert button. The user than has a five second buffer when a text message is sent with the user’s exact location to three trusted helpers which then initiates a conference call with all of them. Alert piggybacks both text and the conference call into the user’s data plan so the app does not cut into voice minutes.
Alert is available for download on iOS and Android mobile phones and does not require a change in phone carrier or phone number to use. The users’ alert contacts don’t need to use a smartphone to receive alerts. The basic app is available for free at the Apple App Store, on Google Play, and includes text message service and three conference calls.