How to Track Glucose Readings With a Log Book

Monitoring blood glucose levels is a critical part of regulating diabetes. Using a log book to track those levels from day-to-day can give you and the medical professionals who work with you an overview of your glucose levels and how they vary. Including glucose levels, the times of the readings and other activities from your day can provide invaluable information on how to stay healthy.

Things You'll Need

• Glucose monitoring device
• Test strips
• Pen or pencil
• Notebook or binder with paper
• Computer with Internet access (optional)
• Spreadsheet software (optional)
• Printer (optional)

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Instructions

• 1

  Review sample log books. The Joslin Diabetes Center sample log has the following headings: date, breakfast, lunch, supper, bedtime, medications, comments. Each day, record the date on the left, then the readings you took and any notes. OneTouch, a glucose monitoring company, recommends a slightly more complex log, with room for multiple readings for each meal.

• 2

  Prepare your log book. Write your headings across the top of a page and dates for the coming week down the left side. Alternately, use a computer spreadsheet program to create a basic log book. Depending on personal preference, you can keep such as log on a computer or print out blank spreadsheets and fill them in by hand. Each week, prepare a new page for your glucose readings and notes.

• 3

  Test your glucose levels at the intervals that your doctor or diabetes counselor recommends. Note each reading in your log. Include any exercise, illness, insulin reactions, major stresses as well as significant changes in your meals.

• 4

  Look for trends in your glucose levels and adjust according. OneTouch defines a trend as three consecutive high readings or two consecutive low readings. Adjust your meals or exercise to increase or decrease your glucose levels as needed.

• 5

  Take your log book to appointments with any members of your diabetes management team. It will be a valuable reference tool in discussions about your care.