Let’s be honest—managing Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is a full-time job, especially when it’s your child who’s living with it. Between school, sleepovers, sports, and snack time, it often feels like you need eyes everywhere.
Luckily, T1D tech has come a long way. There are now incredible apps that help parents (and kids) track blood sugars, insulin, carbs, and so much more—right from your phone.
Here are 6 T1D apps I personally recommend as a parent. Some we use daily, some we’ve tried, and all of them are trusted by the T1D community.
1. Nightscout (Managed or Self-Hosted)
Platform: Web
Best For: Real-time CGM tracking and sharing
Nightscout lets you view your child’s continuous glucose monitor (CGM) data in real time from anywhere. You can set up alerts, share data with school staff, and even loop in extended family.
💡 Want something easy? Go with a managed Nightscout service. No coding required. It just works.
Check my recent article about my two favorite managed Nightscout services.
✅ Highlights:
- Works with Dexcom, Libre, xDrip, and more
- Can integrate with looping apps like AAPS and Loop
- Real-time alarms for high/lows
2. xDrip+ (Android) or Spike (iOS)
Platform: Android / iOS
Best For: Custom alerts and advanced CGM data
xDrip+ is an open-source app for Android that gives you super-detailed insights into blood sugar trends. Spike is the iOS counterpart (with more limitations due to Apple’s policies).
✅ Highlights:
- Super customizable
- Can replace the official CGM apps
- Integrates with Nightscout and AAPS
3. Android APS (AAPS)
Platform: Android
Best For: DIY closed-loop insulin delivery
AAPS is a powerful app that enables closed-loop insulin delivery when used with compatible pumps, CGMs, and phones. It’s part of the #WeAreNotWaiting movement and has changed the lives of many T1D families.
⚠️ Requires technical setup and commitment—but for many, it’s worth it.
✅ Highlights:
- Fully customizable closed-loop
- Supports Nightscout integration
- Amazing community support
🔗 Learn more: androidaps.readthedocs.io
4. Sugarmate (iOS)
Platform: iOS
Best For: Beautiful CGM dashboard and alerts
Sugarmate pulls CGM data from Dexcom and gives you a sleek, easy-to-read dashboard. It includes predictive alerts and even sends a call to your phone if sugars go dangerously low.
✅ Highlights:
- Call notifications for urgent lows
- iCloud sync and Apple Watch support
- Works great for sleep
5. MySugr
Platform: Android / iOS
Best For: Logging meals, insulin, and daily trends
MySugr is one of the most popular logging apps out there. It helps kids and parents track carbs, insulin doses, exercise, and blood sugars all in one place—with a fun, user-friendly design.
✅ Highlights:
- Clean, gamified UI
- Easy log sharing with your doctor
- Syncs with many BG meters
6. Gluroo
Platform: Android / iOS
Best For: Real-time communication and logs
Gluroo is newer to the scene but great for families. It’s like a messaging app combined with T1D tracking—everyone sees the same data, and you can comment on events (e.g., “Had snack, gave 1u”).
✅ Highlights:
- Group chat meets diabetes log
- Great for co-parenting or caregiver teams
- Still growing, but promising
Bonus: For School & Caregivers
If you need simple tools to communicate BG levels and insulin given while your child is at school or daycare:
- Google Forms + Sheets can be customized to create daily logs.
- Nightscout links shared with school staff make monitoring easier.
💬 Final Thoughts
You don’t need to do this alone—and you don’t need to do it all manually.
With the right tools, managing your child’s diabetes becomes more predictable, more connected, and a lot less overwhelming. Whether you’re looping with AAPS or just starting out with a CGM, there’s an app to help.
