Anita Aguilar – nutritionist
“In my experience, I work with patients diagnosed with DM1, and introducing them to the WebDia app has been beneficial. They’ve shown interest in using the app for self-guidance, often complementing it with their pre-existing tables. On occasions where practicality is essential, they rely on these tables.”
Maria Calderon – doctor
“WebDia has proven to be incredibly valuable for me, especially given my location in Arequipa. Working in a ministry hospital, I encounter numerous patients from remote villages, many of whom don’t speak Spanish. However, now that everyone has mobile phones in these areas allows them to easily download the app. The carbohydrate counting and insulin correction features have been particularly beneficial, thanks to the app’s visual aids. Additionally, considering the diet of children in the southern regions, bordering Bolivia, is primarily carbohydrate-centric, the app has played a crucial role. Despite consuming native foods rich in carbohydrates, such as dried potato, fresh potato, and canchita serrana, these children, who are active due to regular walks and agricultural activities, don’t gain excessive weight. I’m eager to see more native foods added to the app.”
“The hospital – reference to where she works – plays a crucial role in educating residents. Whenever we encounter a child with diabetes, especially during their initial insulinization, carbohydrate counting becomes a fundamental aspect. However, I’ve noticed deficiencies among staff, including nutritionists, when it comes to providing education on carbohydrate counting. To address this, I recommend the use of WebDia and incorporate its teachings during our training sessions. When my residents encounter patients, they often seek guidance on correction methods. Instead of relying on sending me pictures of plates, I instruct them to refer to the app, showing the dietary content along with approximate amounts, either by hand or by cup (since weighing may not always be feasible). And it should be noted that it is useful to explain that certain food groups, such as eggs, lack carbohydrates.”
“We continually work to adapt our educational approach to cultural contexts. We encounter unique combinations of foods in local preparations. For instance, mixtures of squash, pumpkin, and potato with small pieces of cheese, which lack protein. I’m curious about providing feedback to the app, as I have an expanding list of foods to suggest for inclusion. How can we submit feedback and contribute to the addition of more diverse food options?”
“There are instances where children express a desire to consume more food, and it’s impractical to restrict them. With the help of the app, we can assess the carbohydrate content and adjust portions of foods that trigger insulin responses. It’s beneficial for them to witness the carbohydrate amounts and understand the consequences of exceeding these limits. This approach aids in dispelling the misconception that doctors outright prohibit certain foods, especially when a child’s glucose levels are elevated.
Vicky Motta – nutritionist
“As someone primarily engaged in private practice, I encounter patients from diverse regions, both from Lima and other areas. Aligning with Maria Calderon’s observations, patients from different regions, such as Huanuco, Huancayo, Arequipa, Cuzco, and Chiclayo, exhibit unique culinary preferences and regional dishes. WebDia proves to be an invaluable resource, not just for the information it provides, but also for its user-friendly interface, particularly appreciated by children. While it has been immensely helpful, we do feel the absence of certain foods. I appreciate the opportunity to offer suggestions, and I believe expanding the app’s database would be fantastic. Considering the richness of the culinary landscape in Peru, it would greatly enhance the user experience.
” In some high Andean regions, the cuisine tends to be rich in carbohydrates and is very delicious, so residents want to consume these preparations and desire variety in the app beyond the cuisine of Lima. It would be wonderful if the app could incorporate, at the very least, the most representative dishes from these diverse regions.”
Maria Marull – nutritionist
“Have you considered incorporating a menu for hypoglycemia in the WebDia app? Although we often emphasize the importance of having 15 grams of carbohydrates, it would be beneficial to suggest specific local foods. For example, include options such as orange juice. There are situations where patients might not have access to conventional choices like soda, chocolate, or a sugar bowl, especially when they are outdoors. Additionally, there’s the challenge of children occasionally feigning hypoglycemia to obtain candy.”
“Very grateful to be able to participate in such an important project for us who work in the primary care setting, and we require continuous guidance and training due to the ongoing advancements in health science and the new challenges to face in the near future.” – doctor
“The application is very good. I have shared it with patients and healthcare staff at my hospital. Very useful for monitoring measures.” – anonymous
“Suitable. One improvement could be to adapt the application to different regions of Peru, as the heterogeneity of Peruvian cuisine means there are different dishes with different ingredients.” – anonymous
“Regarding the application: it is very good, useful, practical, and necessary. It needs to expand to include more Peruvian foods, and if possible, common, homemade, traditional, and more representative dishes from Peru’s regions. Justification: Type 1 diabetes is present in all regions of Peru, and Web-Dia Mundi is intended for use throughout Peru. If possible, including actual images of Peruvian foods would be fantastic. In the introduction, it could be made more graphic to show portion sizes so that people can visually identify or recognize them. Utilization: My recommendation is to train primary care professionals who work with people with diabetes, specifically with type 1 diabetes and/or patients who use insulin as treatment. Prioritize the basic diabetes care team for type 1. and definitely monitor the use and impact of the training. If possible, monitor the use of WebDia Mundi. Dissemination: Increase dissemination and promotion of the benefits of WebDia Mundi, primarily within the medical and health community, and then among the target audience. This is a summary.” – nutritionist
Transcription of Julissa’s video:
“Webdia mundi has been an extraordinary tool for explaining one of the most complicated points to diabetes patients, which is carbohydrate counting. This tool, made with Peruvian products from our region, has helped me explain to patients and their caregivers how they should count their carbohydrates, graphically, easily, and in a friendly manner, with images to show them how they can calculate their food based on portions and indicate how much each portion weighs, so they can adjust the amount of insulin they need. It has greatly helped my patients achieve better metabolic control because they use a more accurate insulin dose. It has also helped those patients at risk of type 2 diabetes and who are overweight or obese, who have been able to understand with the images how much their food weighs and how many carbohydrates it contains. I want to thank the creator of the app very much; it has been a magnificent tool that I continuously given to patients, and it’s free for them to have better metabolic control in diabetes.” – doctor
