Apple has launched CareKit, which makes its debut alongside mobile apps for reproductive health, diabetes and depression from startups given early access to the mHealth developer software. 

The open source software was first announced last month and builds on Apple's earlier set of app developer tools called HealthKit and its medical research-focused ResearchKit platform.

With CareKit Apple aims to make it easier for developers to build apps that help people manage their health and well-being.

The first wave of apps built using the software include One Drop's diabetes management mobile app of the same name, which tracks glucose, food, medicines and activity in a single dashboard.

Much like mainstream fitness apps, such as Fitbit, One Drop allows users to set goals, though tailored to diabetes management by tracking levels of blood glucose and carbs per meal, as well as daily activity.

Joining One Drop in the iTunes Store is Iodine's Start app, which works as a combined depression test, pill reminder, mood tracker and side effect and medication manager.

And there are two apps from Glow for expectant parents and then parents and carers of babies. Glow Nurture is a pregnancy tracker and 'baby bump' app and Glow Baby is another combination app - this time bringing together features such as a breastfeeding timer, sleep log and growth tracker.

The open source CareKit software framework is available from hosting service Github.

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