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Receiving a diagnosis for diabetes type 1 or type 2 means it’s critically important to be mindful of which foods could negatively impact your blood glucose levels. Similarly, if you have prediabetes (meaning your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but do not yet warrant a diabetes diagnosis), you may be trying to change diet and lifestyle habits that have long been in place.
Klinio is a diabetes management platform and app (available for iOS and Android) designed specifically for people with prediabetes or diabetes and related issues, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or those trying to lose weight in a healthy way, according to Žadvydė Vėbraitė, a brand manager at Klinio. If you struggle with figuring out what to eat, the platform’s personalized meal plans may be beneficial, and help ensure you’re getting the nutrients your body needs, while reducing the risk of glucose and insulin spikes.
Klinio is a beneficial tool for people with diabetes or pre-diabetes who feel overwhelmed at managing their health or who are always on the hunt for new, diabetes-friendly recipes. That said, it does not provide the same personalized recommendations that working one-on-one with a dietitian can provide.
The platform was created in 2019 in response to the overwhelming number of people with diabetes or prediabetes, according to Vėbraitė. Indeed, 422 million people have diabetes worldwide, notes the World Health Organization, and type 2 diabetes in particular has been on the rise for the past three decades in all countries[1].
Klinio was created amid building research that some chronic diseases and conditions, including type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, can be managed through daily diet and lifestyle habits, says Vėbraitė, noting that the Klinio team “collaborated with different experts, endocrinologists, nutrition experts and health coaches to create the perfect solution for prediabetes and diabetes management.” The team behind Klinio is based in Lithuania and, according to its website, is available in 192 different countries.
After I downloaded Klinio, the app asked for my personal stats (including sex, height and weight), if I had diabetes type 1, type 2 or prediabetes or other medical conditions, how active my lifestyle is and if I have a weight loss goal. It also asked if I had any dietary preferences or restrictions, and gave me the option to allow or decline push notifications.
After I indicated my weight loss goal, the app revealed to me how long it would take to meet this goal, based on my personal stats, how active my lifestyle is and the app’s calorie intake recommendation. It also gave me a body mass index score, metabolic age, recommended calorie intake, physical activity goal and hydration goal based on my current health and weight loss goal. Then, I was prompted to subscribe for the full experience.
A subscription provides access to a personalized meal plan, which is based on the user’s quiz answers. They can then explore a wide range of recipes that fit within their meal plan and select which recipes they’d like to try, and the app will create a grocery shopping list. Subscribers can also browse the library of free, no-equipment workouts.
Subscribers can track their progress by inputting their blood glucose levels, glycated hemoglobin, physical activity, meals and hydration. They can also track their medications.
There are three different subscription plans to choose from: $39 for a three-month subscription, $52 for a six-month subscription and $67 for a 12-month subscription. “All plans provide the same features; they just differ in length,” says Vėbraitė.
While these subscription plans are more expensive than other diabetes management apps such as mySugr and Diabetic Recipes, which are free (although they offer in-app purchases and premium subscription plans), Klinio is more extensive than these apps, and the only one with personalized eating plans, recipes, workouts and a progress tracker.
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Jessica DeGore, a registered dietitian who specializes in nutrition coaching for people with diabetes (and who is unaffiliated with Klinio) says that when someone is newly diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes, it can be overwhelming—especially when it comes to what to eat. “They often have questions about medications, meals and lifestyle changes,” she says.
While this can make an app like Klinio helpful, DeGore says there are free resources available that she believes can be just as helpful. “There are many free diabetes-friendly recipes online, and the American Diabetes Association has a free guide,” she says. If someone with diabetes needs more help figuring out what to eat, DeGore recommends working one-on-one with a registered dietitian who specializes in diabetes, as they can create custom meal plans. When you work with a registered dietitian, you can be sure the meals are coming from a qualified expert and are suggested with that specific person in mind, she continues. However, not all health insurance plans cover the cost of meeting with a dietitian, so this may be an inaccessible option for some.
Overall, DeGore agrees that Klinio’s progress tracker can be beneficial for diabetes management and a helpful tool for one to share with their health care provider during appointments. Still, some health insurance companies cover blood sugar tracking devices, which can give much of the same information.
Part of why some may be interested in Klinio is for its weight loss management tools, and DeGore says that many people with type 2 diabetes do struggle with weight gain. “Insulin resistance can make it difficult to lose weight,” she says, adding that it’s not uncommon for someone with type 2 diabetes to feel an unjustified shame around their weight. “The stigma surrounding weight and diabetes is a very serious issue,” she continues. Because of this stigma and shame, she finds it more beneficial to focus on building healthy habits than zeroing in on weight loss as a goal.
On a similar note, DeGore found that when she took Klinio’s quiz herself, the recommended calorie intake was much lower than what she would recommend as a dietitian. “I have a normal BMI, no medical conditions and indicated that I wanted to lose 10 pounds—just to see what information I would get. Even though I said I lived a very active lifestyle, the app recommended a daily calorie consumption of 1,200 to 1,400 a day, which is too low,” she says. To her, this indicates that the guidance recommended through the app is not as beneficial as working one-on-one with a dietitian.
Many Klinio customers who have used the app gave it a favorable rating. On Trustpilot, where it has over 1,000 reviews, the average rating is 4.2 stars out of 5. “Diabetes is a daily fight and they give you the tools to win,” one reviewer, who gave the app a perfect rating, shared. Other reviewers say they especially appreciated the recipes and grocery shopping lists.
Users who rated the app low complained that they were charged after canceling the app, the recommended eating plan was too complicated to follow and that it’s difficult to contact actual people from the company.
On Google Play, Klinio has an average rating of 4.4 stars out of 5, based on over 5,000 reviews. Like Trustpilot, some users found the app’s eating plan too complicated to follow. Others found that some of the information in the recipes was off, such as the calories and measurements. Still, others say they loved the recipes and found the app helpful in managing their diabetes.
In general, Klinio could be beneficial for those who feel overwhelmed with managing their diabetes, especially when it comes to what to eat. However, the subscription cost creates a barrier that puts it out of reach for some, including those most at-risk for having the condition. For these individuals, free recipes and guides (such as the one available through the American Diabetes Association) may be a better option.
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While there is no singular Klinio diet, the Klinio app creates personalized, diabetes-friendly eating plans based on someone’s health goals, dietary preferences and allergies.
The cost of the app is $39 for a three-month subscription, $52 for a six-month subscription and $67 for a 12-month subscription, according to Vėbraitė.
According to Klinio’s website, if you purchased the app through Google Play, you can cancel your Klinio subscription by clicking the Google Play app and going to My Subscriptions. Then, select Klinio, “manage,” and then “cancel subscription.”
If you purchased Klinio through the Apple Store, go to your Apple settings on your phone, select Subscriptions, click Klinio, “cancel subscription” and then confirm. Simply deleting the app from your phone will not cancel your subscription. If you need help canceling your subscription, Vėbraitė says to email hello@klinio.com.
For questions about your Klinio account, email hello@klinio.com
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Emily Laurence is a journalist, freelance writer and certified health coach living in Raleigh, North Carolina. She specializes in writing about mental health, healthy aging and overall wellness. For six years, she was an editor and senior writer at Well+Good, covering everything from food trends to public health issues like the opioid epidemic. She graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism. Find her on Instagram at @EmLaurence.
Sarah is an experienced writer and editor enthusiastic about helping readers live their healthiest and happiest lives. Before joining Forbes Health, Sarah worked as a writer for various digital publications including LendingTree, theSkimm, CNBC and Bankrate. When she isn’t writing or editing, you can find Sarah with her nose in a book or enjoying the outdoors with her French bulldog, Honey.
