The first step in spotting patterns or trends in glucose levels is to set up a logbook to keep track of blood glucose levels
and insulin doses. The logbook must be filled out daily. Effective diabetes management is like putting the pieces of a puzzle
together. You can’t complete the puzzle without all the pieces. Many pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies have logbooks
for diabetes management. Children can also make their own. A logbook should keep track of:
-
the amount and timing of each insulin injection
-
the time and result of each blood sugar check
-
the results of any urine tests for sugar and
ketones
-
any unusual events related to the diabetes, such as a missed snack, a minor illness or heavy activity, and all insulin reactions—including
the time of day and, if possible, the cause of the reaction
Why all the effort? Accurate daily records will help you, your child, and your team decide when changes are needed in the
insulin dose or meal plan. Be sure to record the results of tests and the amounts of insulin given right away. These numbers
are difficult to remember or to figure out after several days have gone by.
Your child will need help writing down these measurements at first, but as he gets older he should be able to complete his
own books. You should check the book regularly to stay informed and to make sure your child is recording daily measurements
properly. Record-keeping can be boring, so don’t be surprised if your child needs help from time to time.
Some glucose meters have memory to store the time and result of a given blood sugar check. As a result, it’s tempting not
to record the result right away because “it’s all in the meter.“ This can be a problem. The meter’s memory may mean that you
don’t have to download results into the logbook as often. However, the meter doesn’t replace the logbook. Without a well-kept
record, it is almost impossible to recognize patters of blood sugar levels and to make the right adjustments in a timely way.
