Tech trend: Use Facebook to monitor your health

A new Facebook application is using the thrill of playing an online game to help motivate people with type 2 diabetes live healthier lives. Healthseeker is a social media game that lets users choose healthy lifestyle goals and use ‘missions’ to help achieve those goals. For example, users may choose a mission to eat more fruits and vegetables or get more exercise.

When a user has completed activities in the mission, she records her progress and receives points. Those points add up to earn you achievements badges’and as any good scout will tell you, everyone loves an achievement badge! The game, which was created by Harvard’s Joslin Diabetes Center, a U.S.-based diabetes foundation and a Vancouver-based game designer (all funded by the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim), also allows users to get support from their social network.

Would a game like this help you lead a healthier lifestyle?

Related:
‘ 6 tips on travelling with diabetes
‘ 3 signs you might have diabetes
‘ 5 ways to prevent type 2 diabetes