You may be asked by your health care team to keep a diabetes food diary to get an idea of how your body reacts to carbohydrates, exercise, stress, and treatment. However, even if your doctor does not ask you to, it might be a good idea to keep a detailed food diary for at least a week to see what foods or conditions are having a significant impact on your blood sugar levels and then work with your doctor to see how your diabetes management might be improved.
A food diary can help your doctor or dietician see what is happening as a timeline. They will be able to see when you eat meals and snacks as well as what nutrients you are consuming. They can also see when and how much you are exercising and your moods throughout the day. In addition, you will record your blood sugar readings and when you take your medications.
The food diary might reveal what times you tend to have high blood sugars and when they tend to be lower. It can show how exercise and food might be affecting you throughout the day and how your mood might influence your levels.
What Information is Recorded?
- Food. The diabetes food diary contains details about your meals and snacks and when you eat. Common details are what you ate, how much, how it was made, calories, carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Don't forget condiments and beverages. List everything you put in your mouth. You may also list where you ate.
- Mood. It is helpful to describe how you are feeling when you eat, exercise, and record your blood sugar levels. Record extraordinary events and feelings and when you had them.
- Exercise. Exercise might include logging what exercise you did, how long, and intensity.
- Medications. List what you took and the time. If you want to be more thorough, list any vitamins or supplements you have taken as well.
- Blood sugar levels. Record your pre and post-meal levels and it might be helpful to record what you were doing at the time. Where you working? Watching TV? Talking on the phone?
Traditional and Modern Ways to Keep a Diabetes Food Diary
Using a pencil and paper is the most traditional way to keep a diabetes food diary. You can find printable forms online or create your own. You can use the information to make charts and graphs that make it easier to see your trends throughout the day.
You can go a little more high tech and use your computer's word processor or a spreadsheet program. There are computer programs and websites that let you keep food diaries that are accessible from anywhere. Phone apps are also a really handy way to record. Some of these options allow you to take the data and easily convert it into graphs and charts.
Regardless of how you record, if you intend to share the information with your doctor, make sure it is in an accessible form. If you decide to go beyond pencil and paper, make sure the diary can be printed or emailed.
