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What Is the Purpose of a Food Diary for Diabetics?

It is a myth that diabetics have to eat special foods or follow a complicated diet. The important thing is that you monitor your blood sugar and strive to keep it as close to normal as possible. The easiest way to do that is to monitor eating habits and blood sugar readings in a diabetic food diary.

  1. The Facts

    • A diabetic meal plan should be rich in nutrients and low in calories and fat. Eat a variety of foods in moderate amounts and stick to a regular meal time. By tracking what you eat and when, you can learn what causes your blood sugar to rise or fall out of a normal range.

    What to Monitor

    • In your food diary, monitor when you eat and what you eat including portion sizes. Record blood sugar readings and bring your diary with you when you meet with your doctor or dietitian.

    What to Eat

    • Eat a variety of healthy foods including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean meats and fish. Establish a routine for eating meals at consistent times. You may need to watch portion sizes to keep blood sugar under control.

    Other Tools

    • Strive to find the right balance between food, physical activity and medicine in order to achieve good glucose control. The American Diabetes Association has a tool called My Food Advisor that can help you choose what to eat: http://tracker.diabetes.org/myfoodadvisor.html.

    Significance

    • The importance of keeping your blood sugar under control can't be overemphasized. Lack of good glucose control can lead to serious complications including neuropathy and stroke. A diabetic food diary can help you see what is working and what isn't as you strive to control your diabetes.

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