Patterns are easier to spot on paper.
The date, the time, the result, and what might have affected it.
Readings that are too high or too low on several days in a row, at about the same time, can mean a care plan needs to change. A clear log makes those patterns easy for you, and your health care team, to see.
Fill it in on screen, or print it and use a pen. Bring it to your appointments.
A few minutes a day, one page a month
Your doctor, pharmacy, meter, the targets your care team gave you, what counts as low for you, and a numbered list of your medicines.
Write each check in its box: before and after breakfast, lunch and dinner, and at bedtime. Fill only the times you check. Tick each medicine as you take it.
Fill in the summary: highest and lowest readings, any lows and what helped, your A1C if tested, and your questions.
Clear for you. Quick to read for your doctor.
-
1Color-coded by mealBreakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime, before and after, with a notes column.
-
2A tick for every doseUp to 10 medicines, insulin included, so missed doses are easy to see.
-
3A monthly summaryHighs, lows, missed doses, your A1C and your questions on one page.
-
4Doctor visit pagesWhat you want to ask, what the doctor said, and any medicine changes.
Targets, lows and highs, inside the log
The log includes the general targets the National Institutes of Health (NIDDK) lists for many people with diabetes, with room to write your own. Goals may be different for older adults, so your health care team sets yours.
| When | General target (NIDDK) |
|---|---|
| Before a meal | 80 to 130 mg/dL |
| About 2 hours after a meal starts | Less than 180 mg/dL |
| A1C (your average over about 3 months) | Below 7% for most people |
76 pages for a full year
Pages shown with example entries.
What this log is, and isn't
It is
- A clear, large-print record of your blood sugar and medicines
- A year of logs in one file, fillable or printable
- Something to bring to every appointment
- Yours to keep: no app, no subscription, no login
It isn't
- Medical advice, or a replacement for your care team
- A meter (you will need your own)
- A reason to change a medicine or insulin dose on your own
- A paper book (it's a PDF you print or fill in)
- 12 months of blood sugar logs, up to 7 checks a day
- Monthly medicine charts for up to 10 medicines
- 12 monthly summaries + 4 doctor-visit pages
- A1C and lab-results tracker
- Targets, lows and highs, from NIDDK and the ADA
- Large print, fillable, US Letter + A4
Good to know
Can I fill it in on my phone?
Yes, with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader app (or the Files app on iPhone and iPad). On a computer, open it in Chrome, Edge or Adobe Acrobat Reader. Save after each entry. Or print it and write by hand.
Do I have to check seven times a day?
No. There is room for up to seven checks a day: before and after each meal, and at bedtime. Fill only the times your care team asks you to check, and ask them how often that should be.
Is it dated?
No. Each month has a space for the month and year, so you can start any time.
What blood sugar is normal for seniors?
The NIDDK lists general targets many people with diabetes aim for: 80 to 130 mg/dL before a meal, and less than 180 mg/dL about two hours after a meal starts. Goals may be different for adults over 65 who have had diabetes for a long time, so ask your health care team for yours and write it in the log.
Does it tell me what to do about my readings?
No. It is a log for recording and sharing information with your care team. It includes the general steps for a low from the NIDDK and the American Diabetes Association. Never change a medicine or insulin dose because of your readings without talking to your doctor first, unless your care team has given you a written plan. In an emergency, call 911.
Can I print more pages?
Yes. Keep a clean copy ("Save As" before you start typing) and print any pages you need, for your own personal use.
Blood Pressure & Medication Log
The same large-print, 12-month format for morning and evening blood pressure readings.
Check. Write it down. Bring it along.
Set it up once in a few minutes, then keep a clear record you can bring to every appointment.
Get the log · $9