How to keep a blood sugar log (with example)

Blood sugar readings are easy to forget if you don't write them down. A log shows how your numbers move over time and helps your care team make decisions at your visit.

What to include

• Date and time — when you checked
• Time point — fasting, before meal, 1 or 2 hours after a meal, bedtime
• Reading — with the unit (mg/dL)
• What you ate — for before/after-meal checks, the meal and rough portion
• Notes — exercise, medication, how you felt, sleep, stress

Example log sheet

These numbers only illustrate how to fill in a log. Normal ranges and targets differ by person.

Tips for keeping it going

1. Log right after you check. Batch-logging later blurs times and numbers.
2. Don't try to fill every slot every day — just don't skip the time points you chose.
3. On days with unusual readings, add one line about what might explain it.
4. Once a week, skim your log and compare your higher and lower days.

Paper log or app?

A paper log is familiar and needs no setup. An app turns your readings into charts as they add up and can make a report for just the period your care team needs. Either way, the method you'll actually stick with is the best one.

This article is general health information and does not replace diagnosis or treatment. Targets and how often to check differ from person to person, so follow your care team first. If you have symptoms of low blood sugar or readings far outside your range, contact your care team right away.

Reference: American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Care

Last updated 2026-10-26