In Blog, diabetes food log, Featured, Food and Cooking, Life at Home, Living with Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes

Oftentimes it’s hard to remember the day-to-day mundane details of life. Did you already wear that outfit to the office this week? Are there any eggs left in the fridge? What did you have for breakfast this morning? Did I take my insulin? (This is actually one of the prime reasons we developed Timesulin – to make remembering insulin shots much easier and less stressful)

Normally that wouldn’t be such a big deal, but living with diabetes requires a strict control of the foods you eat day in and day out, so accurately measuring portion sizes and making sure you know how many calories, carbs, and sugars (among other nutritional facts) isn’t so much a benefit as it is a requirement.

Enter the diabetes food log. Food logs have been around for a while, but they gained in popularity with the general public as a way to help aid in weight loss goals. The idea being that most people don’t realize what and how much food they consume until they see it written down. Cutting calories and changing food habits becomes much easier when you’re able to point to text on a piece of paper that’s recorded your caloric intake for the day. The same benefits that exist for people trying to lose weight exist for the diabetes community – especially if you’re newly diagnosed and trying to get a handle on your newly modified diet.

How Do I Create a Diabetes Food Log?

A diabetes food log is a pretty simple concept and can be created easily with a spreadsheet or in a notebook. With the rise of phone and computer apps, there’s even been a bunch of free food log apps that aim to make recording your meals a more seamless part of your day. With that said, a diabetes food log can range from a small notebook where each page is a day of the week and handwritten notes record food during the day to a full-scale app that helps you log your food choices, as well as a bunch of other helpful information that can make diabetes management easier. Which one will work for you depends on your familiarity with technology and whichever method is easier for you to use. Some people even jot them down in their computer or phone’s calendar to have it close at hand.

Here are some examples of food logs created by members of the diabetes community. This is a no-frills calendar via DIY Planner.

meallog

And, here’s an example of a more thorough food log app.

calorie-intake-calculator-weight-loss-9

Diabetes food logs can be very helpful, and are a really good tool for newly diagnosed Type 1s who may be struggling to wrap their head around the new dietary requirements that they need to follow. But we want to hear from you – have you ever used a diabetes food log and if so, did you find it helpful? What type of format worked best for you? And how did you make sure to remember to record all of your food choices?

Timesulin Blog

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