HealthSeeker, a free mobile app that uses gamification for diabetes management and health improvement, launched this week for the iPhone and Android platforms. HealthSeeker was created by the Diabetes Hands Foundation (DHF) in collaboration with the Joslin Diabetes Center. It was developed by Ayogo Games. HealthSeeker began life as a Facebook application, where it currently has more than 8,000 users.

The game allows players to complete specific "missions" that encourage excerise and healthy activities. Successful completion of the missions earns players points and "kudos" from fellow players and Facebook friends.

The mobile app encourages users to play the game on the go.

“It’s important for people to go out and play the game and not be tied to a computer to share their results,” Manny Hernandez, president of the Diabetes Hands Foundation stated in a press release. Last month, DHF’s online communities (English site TuDiabetes.org and Spanish site EsTuDiabetes.org) also went mobile.

Ayogo Games is also working with Dr. Leslie Saxon and the USC Body Computing Center on mobile health games.

Check out the full press release from DHF after the jump.

Diabetes Hands Foundation’s mobile HealthSeeker apps keep people gaming to improve their health and diabetes management

Diabetes Hands Foundation (DHF) announced today the launch of free iPhone and Android mobile applications for the HealthSeeker game. HealthSeeker is the first Facebook® game to help people develop healthy living habits.

The HealthSeeker game is a Facebook® app that allows players to complete action steps and missions toward achieving healthy lifestyle goals. They earn points and can get kudos from other players and Facebook friends.

The mobile apps, available at www.healthseekermobile.org, free up players from their computers. “It’s important for people to go out and play the game and not be tied to a computer to share their results,” said Manny Hernandez, president of the Diabetes Hands Foundation. Last month, DHF’s online communities (TuDiabetes.org in English, EsTuDiabetes.org in Spanish) also went mobile.

The game encourages positive action to improve nutrition, increase exercise, reduce stress and manage diabetes. Amy Campbell, from Joslin Diabetes Center, pointed out: “HealthSeeker gives people with diabetes the opportunity to get on-going support 24/7 – from friends, family and other people who have diabetes. It also helps family and friends get and stay healthy, too!” Before the launch of the mobile applications, the game had 8,000 players.

"We're really excited to extend Healthseeker onto mobile phones," said Ayogo's Michael Fergusson, who designed GoodLife™, the serious games engine used to build Healthseeker. "Having the game always at hand will allow players to integrate the health missions seamlessly into their daily lives."

The HealthSeeker™ game can be accessed at www.healthseekergame.org. After signing up, the mobile apps can be downloaded at http://www.healthseekermobile.org.

The games and the apps were developed by the Diabetes Hands Foundation in collaboration with Joslin Diabetes Center and designed by Ayogo Games, Inc. with financial support provided by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Lilly USA, LLC.

About the Diabetes Hands Foundation (DHF)

The Diabetes Hands Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to connecting people touched by diabetes and raising diabetes awareness.

Through its online communities (TuDiabetes.org in English, EsTuDiabetes.org in Spanish) and its other social media channels, DHF offers support and information to nearly 200,000 people every month.

Since 2008, DHF has developed pioneering diabetes awareness programs such as Word In Your Hand™, No-Sugar Added Poetry and The Big Blue Test.

For more information, please visit www.diabeteshandsfoundation.org

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/diabetesHF

On Twitter: twitter.com/diabetesHF

On YouTube: www.youtube.com/DiabetesHands

DHF does not endorse products or services.

About Joslin Diabetes Center

Joslin Diabetes Center is the world's preeminent diabetes research and clinical care organization. Joslin is dedicated to ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy lives and offers real hope and progress toward diabetes prevention and a cure. Founded in 1898 by Elliott P. Joslin, M.D., Joslin is an independent, nonprofit institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School.

For more information about Joslin, call 1-800-JOSLIN-1 or visit www.joslin.org,

Keep up with Joslin research and clinical news at Inside Joslin: www.joslin.org/news/inside_joslin.html,

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/joslindiabetescenter,

On Twitter: twitter.com/JoslinDiabetes.

Joslin does not endorse products or services.

About Ayogo Games, Inc.

Ayogo Games, Inc. is an award-winning Vancouver-based studio that creates serious games for the web, social networks, and smartphones. At Ayogo, we’re helping people change their lives, one fun social game at a time. We create “Games for Good” – Games that nurture human connection, motivate, educate, and promote health and wellness.

Keep up with CEO Michael Fergusson’s Social Game Design Blog http://www.ayogo.com/social-game-design or visit us our corporate site http://www.ayogo.com. You can also friend us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ayogo and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ayogogames.