How long did you have to write you sugars down for?

[GregGolden]

Ive been a diabetic for about 5-6 months, and my doctor wants me to write my sugars down for him to look at. I know its not that much of a task, but half the time im not home, sometimes I forget to check, and most of the time I just forget to write it down. How long did you guys have to write your sugars down post being diagnosed?

[duck]

Dude, seriously, FOREVER is about the right answer.

[Cinnabon]

Exactly what Duck said. DOesn't your meter have memory?

[duck]

Hey Greg,

Almost every successful person I know keeps something of a diary in regards to what they do...I knew a few fanatic bodybuilders, and they kept COPIOUS notes on all facets of their lives--obviously, their workouts, their diets, how they felt during the workout, during the day, the weather that day, etc. Some of the network engineers I know keep a journal of their work...One of them even writes it all down on paper (which I found to be strange for a computer-guy, but it works for him). The most successful sales people I know keep journals on sales, potential customers, and the ones that got away...

All these people analyze their notes, I find it very interesting that in order to be successful, you need to keep notes about your task at hand. So don't beat yourself up because you have diabetes and need to keep notes...Literally, you don't have to, BUT if you want to be successful, then you HAVE TO. :D

[TvBabe]

I always have a record of my results, that being said I don't write them down but use the cable connection on my meter to my computer and print that stuff out for my doctors.

Maybe you should consider that possibility?

[gettingby]

Dude, Duck is right (again,lol). It's a forever deal. I have had the big "D" for 20+ years and I still write down my results. It helps your doctor to see the trends in your bg levels and helps him/her to make the necessary changes.
I have the One Touch Ultra meter and it has a memory capacity for 250 test results. They also have a cable to use to download the info to your computer and print up charts to take with you. My only gripe with this is that I shouldn't have to pay $30 for a cable when I have to pay a copay for my strips and I use alot of them in a month. Yeah, I'm cheap but with this disease, you have to use any and all tricks that you can.

[lgvincent]

I've gone through periods when I didn't write anything down. I've gone through periods when I didn't check. The last time it happened that I can recall would be in the late 70's to early 80's. As some have mentioned, some meters have a lot of memory, so it will hopefully not be too hard for you to recall your blood sugar readings.

[DeusXM]

I go through long periods when I don't write the results down, but every three months or so I'll sit down with my spreadsheet and monitor and spend about 4 hours typing in all the results back!

Keeping a record of your results is essential to see how you're doing in terms of long term control. For instance, once you've got several weeks worth of results, you'll be able to see trends - maybe you tend to run slightly higher sugars at breakfast, or you always have hypos in the afternoon. When you can see things like that, you can then make real changes to your regime that will benefit you immensely.

I find it particularly helpful to use spreadsheets because it means I can see my daily, my monthy and my meal time averages in a click, including graphs with trendlines. My dad's a bit of an Excel whizz and he's made this frankly brilliant spreadsheet that does everything I need it to and has been really helpful. If anyone would like a blank copy, then get in touch with me and I'll email it over.

[archimeech]

I wrote them down for 15 years!!!!! Now, I download them to my computer and print them out. I had one old Israeli endocrinologist that wanted me to write them down in one of those old BD log books just last year. He said that he could read them easier that way, while rushing out the door to go to his next patient because he was Triple Booked and not giving anyone the time needed for an appointment. I gave the book back to his nurse and told her to tell him that if he doesn't have time to read the reports that I print how in **** is he going to have time to thumb through this little book, then I told her that I didn't have time to take up stenography again and if this guy wasn't going to get into the 20th century that I wasn't going to be his patient now that we were in the 21st! :)

[Richard B]

I used to write them down on a chart and found Diabetes Pilot (installs on pc and PDA platforms..Palm or Pocket PC). My Doc likes me to bring it to the office visits because it charts Glucose, Exercise, Food breakdown (carbs, calories, proteins, etc), and Medication. I can print the charts and take them or just take my PDA and view them at the office. The Doc likes the charting programs (most Doc's like to view charts rather than raw data).

The PDA works great when I'm away from the pc and syncs updated data when I return.

you can download a free trial at www.diabetespilot.com That's what I did because I was looking for a program that would work on a Pocket PC platform.

It becomes a habit to record this information and only takes a few minutes a day, but is extremely valuable for yourself as well as your doctor.

[nantomsuethom]

I guess Thomas better start keeping a log of his bgs.

He can always get them from his meter, but some of his readings are not real. Well they are but sometimes he will test 30 min. to an hour after he eats and gets what I call a "false" high. When we download his results it looks like he has too many highs.

The only time that I have him keep a log is the 2 weeks before his endo appointment, so that she can see what he is running.

It does make sense though that you may have better control if you keep a log.

[Belinda]

My endo knows how much I hate writing them down plus I use about 4 meters at various place of work and home. He told me that I didn't have to keep record of them except 2 weeks prior to visit or if I notice something isn't right (like unusual high BS after I have changed site, checked for occlusions etc). This works great for me....and he knows if it is false info..,the A1C will prove it (NO I haven't falsified my records!!!!) :stupido:

[Cielo]

Hey Greg,

Almost every successful person I know keeps something of a diary in regards to what they do...I knew a few fanatic bodybuilders, and they kept COPIOUS notes on all facets of their lives--obviously, their workouts, their diets, how they felt during the workout, during the day, the weather that day, etc. Some of the network engineers I know keep a journal of their work...One of them even writes it all down on paper (which I found to be strange for a computer-guy, but it works for him). The most successful sales people I know keep journals on sales, potential customers, and the ones that got away...

All these people analyze their notes, I find it very interesting that in order to be successful, you need to keep notes about your task at hand. So don't beat yourself up because you have diabetes and need to keep notes...Literally, you don't have to, BUT if you want to be successful, then you HAVE TO. :D


A great man of our time, Tom Brown Jr., keeps notebooks and notebooks full of things that happen and things that he learns on a day to day basis. He has more than an 18-wheeler full of these notebooks.

You really need to record your readings, how can your doctor monitor your status without them? It sounds like you haven't really had diabetes for that long....how long has it been? You also sound young so I see where you're coming from. Don't see diabetes as your curse. See it as a chance to learn more about yourself (b/c trust me, diabetics are more in tune with their bodies than anybody I know) and a chance to bear responsibility. I think that diabetics are amongst the hardest workers and most responsible and dependable people out there, and I think it's all due to the diligence and commitment they put forth in conquering the disease.

[am1977]

As a self-proclaimed control freak :rolleyes:, you would think I would have everything written down and recorded...Not so :thumpdown ! I am horrible about keeping log of my blood sugar. So much so that I often have to scramble to write down my numbers from my meter's memory usually right before my appt :stupido: . Admittedly, organization isn't my strong suit :flute: , but I should really be better at logging these numbers.

[Erin]

Greg,

I don't usually write my numbers down, except for about 2 weeks before my doc appointment. I do however, find that when I take the time to record EVERYTHING (food intake, exercise, insulin, blood sugar levels) it keeps me honest, and in better control. (I don't know why, i don't do anything different, but keeping track of stuff actually makes my numbers better).

If you don't have a meter with a memory you should definitely switch, the memory function is awesome.

-Erin

[buzzborne]

I have to admit that i dont write down my numbers but I have a meter that has memory, and before an appt. i go through it and put them in my book... though if I forget I just tkae in my meter and they look through that.

Think it may be a wise idea to start writing them down... :1eye:

[Mick]

FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER...

And even WITH meter memories, writing it down is indispensible. We have these wonderful tools for achieving near-perfect management. We should be using them to the max. I write down not only test results (all of them every day for the past 15+ years), but all insulin doses and times, plus any unusual or remarkable events--large meals, exercise, any illness or other events. What this allows me to do is step back and put all the variables together to see a more complete and logical picture. I can see trends and correct or adjust times, foods, doses, etc.

The key to successful lifetime management of diabetes IS being a "Control Freak"!

Trust me--it's not all that much work, mostly just good habits. And it is well worth the efforts.

Michael
T1 since 1965

[Lori M.]

I record mine all the time because I'm still new at this thing.

Lori :elefant:

[Simons]

Yes, I am a control freak. I have been insulin dependent for 62 years and I have the paper records continuous from 1983. Don't know why but I just can't throw them away. :hello:
Simons

[palefacegirl03]

15 years and still writing, I make notes , how I feel, things like that, and log it into computer when I get home. I write in down when away from the computer, since I cannot rely on my memory for things i cannot put on my meter.

[Peter Lee]

Until I was in a stable condition I entered all the results on a spreadsheet and produced a graph so that I could watch the sugar level come down - you have to grasp at something to stay sane in the early days :bike:

Now I keep a note of all the results to show both the doctor and the diabetes nurse. If nothing else, it provides a baseline to work from if my medication ever needs adjusting or changing.

[perkeyo]

I had to write them down for 1 year before i got lazy and stopped doing it. So i havent recorded my numbers for about 2 years but i realize that sometime I will have to start up again.

[rzrbks]

use the InDuo spredsheet----that being said, none of my Drs. have ever asked for the numbers


worst A1c has been 5.7 so, their attitude has been, "It works, so why mess with it."