Diabetes record keeping systems to manage blood sugar ups and downs

What you need to know after being newly diagnosed with T1D

There's no denying that a diagnosis of t1d means you need to adapt to new routines. You can quickly rise to the challenge by learning as much as possible about managing diabetes and ensure your blood sugar stays within your target range.

Your diabetes support team, which can include your doctor, a diabetes educator, a dietician, and other healthcare specialists, will help you sort out the basics. Then, as you create a diabetes record keeping system for taking blood sugar readings, dosing insulin, scheduling physical activity, and planning meals, you can gain confidence in managing everyday activities.

Documenting how you feel and discussing concerns with your healthcare team is important. Signs of high or low blood sugar might include:

Drowsiness

Nausea

Hunger or thirst

Frequent urination

A fast heartbeat, shaking, or sweating

Feeling weak, tired, or irritable

Dizziness

The importance of sharing blood sugar and insulin readings with your healthcare team

Receiving ongoing support from your healthcare team as well as parents, partners, or spouses will ease any uncertainty you may have about measuring blood sugar levels using a glucometer or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). You'll receive training from your healthcare team about calculating doses for basal and bolus insulin and using a syringe, an insulin pen, or an insulin pump.

As your healthcare team offers education about monitoring blood sugar and calculating insulin doses, your doctor will set target ranges for blood sugar readings. Factors like food intake, how often you eat, medications in addition to insulin, exercise, sleep, stress, and hydration can raise or lower blood sugar levels.

At first, it might seem like your blood sugar is up and down without reason — almost like being on a daily roller coaster ride. Using a diabetes record keeping system that you review with your doctor at every appointment will help you understand the factors that cause changes in blood sugar. By being aware of these factors, you'll be able to make adjustments that positively affect the way you feel.

Additionally, if you want to use a CGM or insulin pump, your health insurance company may request this documentation.

Diabetes record keeping systems give you the power to manage the unexpected

Depending on how you monitor blood sugar and dose insulin, you may find yourself using a notebook or combining technology and paper to keep track of everything you need to. By gathering the facts and data and using the information to improve results or reach your goals, you can improve your health and blood sugar levels.

Daily tracking of blood sugar readings, insulin doses, meals and snacks, carb counting, exercise, social activity, mood, hours of sleep, and amounts of fluids consumed are typical items to log. Sometimes, persons newly diagnosed with t1d can be hesitant to monitor blood sugar readings for fear of seeing high or low readings. However, there's nothing to fear. Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to your health.

What diabetes record keeping system should you use? The answer is the one that works best for you. Here's a list of suggested record keeping methods to help you and your loved ones decide:

A spiral notebook size 6" x 9" or smaller that you can carry with you each day in your backpack or briefcase

Diabetes record-keeping forms the doctor supplies that you keep in a plastic project folder or binder

Specially created spreadsheets with lists of information that are easy to update, email, and share

A combination system of downloading information from a CGM to your computer plus forms where you document additional information

Any app that works with your CGM to keep tracking information in one place

A remote patient monitoring system used by your physician or healthcare system — like Glooko

Gaining knowledge about diabetes management also means having plans in place to manage the unexpected — like using glucose tablets to respond to blood sugar lows. Additionally, safeguards like wearing a medical ID bracelet offer peace of mind for those newly diagnosed and their families to know that help will be available in the event of a diabetic emergency.

Looking for more information on managing t1d? Check out this article on carb counting to get started.