So I am not a great log keeper, there are a few reasons for that. One major one is that it overwhelms me. My schedule can be erratic at times, and there are so many variables that go into blood sugar, I am just not sure how to keep track of it all, and then how to analyze it easily (not something that is going to take a lot of time). I am wondering how others keep track of the diabetes, do you put in exercise (time and type), food types, for the women - cycles, and all that? Has anyone found a method that doesn't involve taking a lot of time to document every little tweak or adjustment? I really want to be better at this, but the time commitment is tough, I already feel like I have a lot on my plate. I do have a CGM that I download, and try and take rough notes in a organizer I have too.
I use the OneTouch UltraSmart because it automatically saves your test in a downloadable logbook. You can also plug in your exercise info right away, (or later on if you didn't have time), as well as carb intake, insulin doses, some food info(such as "alcohol").
I was never good at logbooking, it was another hassle to carry it with me and pull it out and find a pen. My endo was REALLY happy when i showed up with this meter...instead of a few scraps of paper with some random blood tests on them.
Hi Ginny - I agree with Batts in that i use my one touch link (same as Smart but it links with the pump). You have options to add whatever you need as Batts said. i try for every week (usually ends up every 2 weeks) on a Sunday to download all my results which may be a bit much but oh well. I also download my pump info so I know my insulin levels etc. which helps me guage my ratios - should I adjust higher/lower. (let's be clear that I'm not saying everyone should be on the pump - i use it becuase of the info i can download-i know it's not for everyone). One thing I do that has helped is keep a little note pad in my meter/supply kit. I have a pen attached to it and make little notes - feel tired, work stress, ate more/less than expected, exercised. It's not a lot and i put the date per entry - takes all of 10 seconds. It has helped me a lot b/c it's not a log but when I review my own readings and make adjustments I can figure out why i was high or low and may not need adjustments. It has really dialed me in. That way when I go to the doc, it's usually just getting tests and reviewing that my changes were correct.
I see that you download your CGM and take rough notes - that's a start. Maybe try to take 1/2 hour every couple weeks (or month) to review. Sometimes, by having smaller amounts of info, it doesn't feel as overwhelming. It works for me, hope you find the right system. Be well.
My schedule is also pretty erratic. I do download my meter and pump information to make graphs for my endo to see, but I also keep a hand written record just for me to look at. It probably wouldn't make any sense to anyone else. I use graph paper and write the 24 hours in a day across the top, then I write the days along the side. I enter my BG's in thier respective boxes. I circle highs and underline lows. I make an X next to the day if I am on my period and list any carbs I ate that day. I make an X under my BG if I exercised. I also list any bolus under my BG and an up or down arrow if I adjust my basal rate. I usually sit down and do this a couple of times a week and it is easy for me to look at the record and see trends. It sounds like a lot of work, but it doesn't take very long and I like to be able to see everything at a glance. My endo would probably think I was crazy if he actually saw it!!! Hopefully I will be able to get a CGM soon and then my record keeping will probably change.
There are so many computer programs out there one may appeal to you. Try reading the list of resources at http://www.mendosa.com/software.htm Mr. Mendosa has an excellent list of programs with their descriptions.
I forget a lot about the downloading the pump option. I just got an Omnipod recently, and need to look into those options more. It seems like they would have something like that built it. I think part of it is just making it a habit too. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks for the link cc_racer!! Since I am on the computer everyday, I think I will be more inclined to type in my data. I really like CareLogger. At appointment time, I can just print it out and take it along! I have had a lot of trouble keeping a log paper and pencil style.....hopefully this will help me get on track! Thanks!
what's log keeping? bwahahahahaha
When Ri was first dxed we logged religiously then we went to her first appointment and the lady didnt even look at the log book for the last two weeks we hadnt been calling her daily with her numbers and such. She just downloaded the info from her meter. So between that and when my son started having grand mals I have gotten horribly bad at doing it like not at all. :/ I feel horribly guilty for not doing it yet cant seem to remember its even needed. I need to scan a log sheet and make more copies and just start doing it.
I am religious about handwriting my logs b/c I NEVER get it together to upload and print my meter and CGM info. That way, I can just happen to glance down and see trends. I use those free one touch log books (I think they are now charging for them via Animas' online store, but they're cheap). They're really small to stick in a little bag w/ a meter and strips.
I only ever write my BG's and amount of insulin and it takes 2 seconds. I generally exercise at the same time each day and rarely have ketones, so I don't bother with those. The only time I make a note is if my activity level is very low one day, like if I'm sitting at an all day conference or on a car trip. I'll also write "P" on the day I get my period if I have happen to remember.
I personally am a huge fan of logging b/c it lets me make changes as needed with my doses, usually at least a few times a month. For me personally, it really helps my a1c numbers.
I take the manual route and write everything down on a sheet of paper. It's a week's worth of numbers arranged in a table, including time, bg, carbs, ratio, and dose for each check time of the day. Plus extra space to write down basal changes, exercise, or any other out-of-the norm things.
If you want, I could email you a copy of it. You can't type your numbers in, but I find it's easier to carry a piece of paper than having to go to a computer so often.
I should write my ratios down for meals! I often change them and then forget what they were the next day.
[quote user="Amanda"]
I take the manual route and write everything down on a sheet of paper. It's a week's worth of numbers arranged in a table, including time, bg, carbs, ratio, and dose for each check time of the day. Plus extra space to write down basal changes, exercise, or any other out-of-the norm things.
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I would love a copy for your log sheet. When I was on the pens, I was really good a logging. With the pump, I find that I meant to record so much information, I just don't bother. I feel like the standard log books don't really work for recording basals. As I am trying to fine-tune, I really need to record as much info as possible. I would love to find a pump log sheet that isn't ridiculous (i.e. every hour, ketones given a whole column in a huge table)!
I agree, carrying the book with me is much more convenient than trying to input everything into the computer.
Emily,
I found a web site that offers alot of different types of log sheets. I use the one that's labelled pump log and it works pretty well. I did print a few sheets out and whited out a couple of the columns and wrote in what I needed to record. Here's the site.
http://www.integrateddiabetes.com/logs.shtml
Hope it helps.
Karen,
Thanks so much for this. I will give it a go!
Emily
Thanks for the website link Karen!! That is exactly what I was looking for.
[quote user="Emily"]
I would love a copy for your log sheet. When I was on the pens, I was really good a logging. With the pump, I find that I meant to record so much information, I just don't bother. I feel like the standard log books don't really work for recording basals. As I am trying to fine-tune, I really need to record as much info as possible. I would love to find a pump log sheet that isn't ridiculous (i.e. every hour, ketones given a whole column in a huge table)!
I agree, carrying the book with me is much more convenient than trying to input everything into the computer.
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It's a MS Word document, so if you want, you can open up a conversation with me and give me your email address and I'll send it, if you don't want to put your email address on this forum. I promise I won't give you computer viruses or anything... actually, I wouldn't even know how to :)
Logging glucose values make me crazy! The daily burden of managing this disease is such that I am very careful not to do anything that pushes me over the edge. I figure that type 1 diabetes is characterized by blood glucose values that are all over the place all of the time and reviewing old logs only reminds me of this fact. I test my glucose often but not so I can log the values and try to make sense of it later. It is hard to make sense of all of those old glucose values because so much of the relevant context is lost. I test my blood glucose because it helps me make a decision about how best to manage from that point forward. I consider the glucose value in the context of the timing and size of my last insulin dose, my food and exercise. I do however, have a downloadable glucose meter that my doctor can use to understand how well I am managing my diabetes. I hope my perspective helps. Stay strong!
I too am really awful at keeping logs. I have been downloading my information, but it isn't as personal or as accessible to understanding at a written log.
Right now my blood-sugars are really out of control, and working in retail hell i have no scheduled, so my doc just sets me up with challenges to keep logs for 2 weeks at a time. That way I don't get overly overwhelmed with the prospect of doing this everyday for the rest of my life (which really bugs me lately.)
[quote user="Gregory Clark"]
I figure that type 1 diabetes is characterized by blood glucose values that are all over the place all of the time and reviewing old logs only reminds me of this fact. I test my glucose often but not so I can log the values and try to make sense of it later. It is hard to make sense of all of those old glucose values because so much of the relevant context is lost.
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I have to disagree. I'm not saying you have to use written logs to do this -- you may have a good memory for your trends -- but some trends can and do exist. If you're high 3 days in a row after breakfast, wouldn't you change your I:C breakfast ratio? If you're low in the middle of the night for a few days, wouldn't you lower your basal? I'm not saying you have to reread months of data, but most people DO have trends over a week that can help them adjust as needed. If you never adjust your doses, it could definitely cause crazy roller coaster numbers! Certainly, some numbers are random, but wouldn't you try to find the ones that aren't?
Sarah, I agree with you. I download my pump every week with CareLink for my endo to look at. They look for patterns to see if there are times where my BGs are consistently high or low and adjust from there. I know they use some sort of formula using the basal, bolus, BG and carb count to see if my blood sugars are coming out the way they should be. If not then they know that something has to be adjusted. Unfortunately you do need to keep some type of written log to keep track of little details like stress level, exercise, sickness, etc. That way if there is something out of the ordinary you know why. When I was in my teens I definitly didn't keep track of anything and ended up into trouble more than once and almost died the last time. Of course it takes a near death experience to get my act together. But that's whole different story.