Keeping a Logbook

The most helpful logbook takes a "snapshot" of each part of your day. Keep track of the following information in your logbook:

• Blood glucose reading
• Medication name(s) and/or insulin dose taken
• Carbohydrate grams eaten
• Type and amount of exercise

Also enter things that can affect your glucose, such as:

• Feeling sick or having a fever
• Stressful or emotional times
• The cause of over- or under-eating, such as a party, stress or a busy day away from home
• Why you were more or less active

The Value of Your Logbook

Your diabetes logbook is a very valuable tool. The information you enter in your log will help you and your doctor know if your diabetes care plan is working. Logbooks will help your doctor to know when and what changes should be made to your diabetes care plan to reduce your risk of complications. Logbooks help reveal this information because they "paint" a picture of how food, exercise, medication(s) and/or insulin affect your glucose results.

Here are some of the ways in which your doctor might use your logbook to help with your diabetes care:

• When a person is first diagnosed, the doctor will need to know blood glucose readings at several times each day, along with grams of carbohydrates eaten and activity level, to prescribe the best treatment.
• Some people take medication(s) and/or insulin(s) that peak (are working strongest to lower blood glucose) at certain times of the day.
  • Everyone is different, which means the peak times vary.
  • A well-kept log will "capture" the peak time, which is important in developing your care plan.
• Checking and recording blood glucose readings just before a meal can help your doctor decide if you need a dose of medication and/or insulin before that meal
• Recording carbohydrate grams eaten throughout the day reveals whether or not your meal plan is working.
  • Logging carbohydrate grams helps many people plan meals and snacks for the same regular time of the day — one important way to stay in control.
  • Tracking exercise in your logbook (along with your blood glucose reading before and after) will help your doctor understand if you are exercising at the most optimal time of the day.

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