The self-monitoring diary for diabetes is a source of necessary information directly for the patient himself, the people caring for him, as well as for the doctor. It has long been proven that living with this disease is quite comfortable, since diabetes can be controlled.
What is a diary for?
Learning how to correctly correct therapy, which includes physical activity, diet, dosage of insulin preparations, as well as correctly assess your condition - these are tasks of self-control. Of course, the leading role in this process is assigned to the doctor, but the patient, who consciously controls his disease, achieves good results, always owns the situation and feels more confident.
Unmistakably fill the diary of a diabetic or a diary of self-monitoring for diabetes will be taught in special schools, which are in every clinic of the city. It is useful for patients with any type of disease. Filling it, it should be remembered that this is not a routine work that takes time, but a way to prevent serious complications. There are no uniform standards for writing in it, however, there are some wishes for its maintenance. It is recommended to keep a diary immediately after diagnosis.
What to write in the diary?
It is necessary to fix the information, the analysis of which will reduce the risks of complications or improve the patient's condition. The most important are the following points:
- glucose level. This indicator is fixed before and after eating. In some cases, doctors ask patients to indicate a specific time;
- time of administration of insulin preparations;
- if hypoglycemia occurs, then make a mark;
- in some cases, treatment with antidiabetic tablets is possible with type 1 diabetes.The name of the drug, dosage, time of administration;
- before glucose stabilization, nutrition is described in detail;
- in the treatment with insulin preparations, bread units are indicated;
- physical activity leads to an increase in the body's need for glucose, which contributes to the accelerated production of insulin, therefore, in the self-monitoring diary for type 1 diabetes mellitus, the type of load and its duration should be indicated;
- blood pressure results with time;
- changes in well-being;
- increase or decrease in body weight;
- the concentration of acetone in urine;
- women should mark the dates of critical days;
- and some other factors that your doctor recommends.
Types of Diaries
There are several options for keeping diaries of self-monitoring for diabetes:
- ordinary notebook or notebook with graphs;
- A finished version of the template, printed from the Internet. It is designed for a month, so this action must be performed as it is completed;
- various electronic versions of tables;
- special programs that are adapted for patients with diabetes in order to monitor their condition;
- smartphone apps.
Diabetes Self-Monitoring Online Applications
Currently, there is a large selection of programs for this category of patients. They differ in functionality and can be both paid and free. Modern technologies make it possible to simplify the diary of self-monitoring for diabetes mellitus, and also, if necessary, consult a treating doctor by sending him information from the diary in electronic form. Programs are installed on a smartphone, tablet or personal computer. Let's consider some of them.
DiaLife
It is an online diary of self-monitoring diet and hypoglycemia. The mobile application contains the following parameters:
- body weight and its index;
- calorie consumption, as well as their calculation using a calculator;
- glycemic index of food;
- for any product, nutritional value is derived and the chemical composition is indicated;
- a diary that makes it possible to see the amount of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and also count calories.
A sample diary of self-monitoring for diabetes can be found on the manufacturer's website.
Social diabetes
This universal program provides the opportunity to use it for any type of diabetes:
- at the first - it helps to determine the dose of insulin, which is calculated based on the level of glycemia and the amount of carbohydrates received in the body;
- in the second, to identify deviations at an early stage.
A diary of gestational diabetes self-monitoring
If a pregnant woman has revealed this disease, then she needs constant self-monitoring, which will help to identify the following points:
- Is there enough physical activity and diet to control glycemia?
- Is there a need for the introduction of insulin preparations in order to protect the fetus from high blood glucose.
The following parameters should be noted in the diary:
- amount of carbohydrates consumed;
- dosage of insulin administered;
- blood sugar concentration;
- body weight;
- blood pressure numbers;
- ketone bodies in urine. They are found with limited consumption of carbohydrates, improperly selected insulin therapy, or during fasting. You can determine them using medical devices (special test strips). The appearance of ketone bodies reduces the delivery of oxygen to tissues and organs, which adversely affects the fetus.
In many women, gestational diabetes disappears after delivery. If after birth the need for insulin preparations remains, then most likely during the period of gestation the first type of diabetes developed. Some women have type 2 diabetes a few years after the baby is born. To reduce the risk of its development will help physical activity, diet and control the concentration of glucose in the blood at least once a year.
Type 2 diabetes self-monitoring diary
The main task in this disease is the persistent normalization of glucose in the blood. The patient is not able to feel its fluctuations, so only careful self-control will allow you to track the dynamics of this serious pathology.
The frequency of glucose studies directly depends on the sugar-lowering drug therapy prescribed for the patient and the level of glycemia during the day. At values close to normal, blood sugar is determined at different times of the day several days a week. If you change your usual lifestyle, for example, increasing physical activity, stressful situations, exacerbation of a concomitant disease or the occurrence of an acute pathology, the frequency of glucose self-monitoring is carried out in agreement with the doctor. If diabetes is combined with overweight, then the following information must be recorded in the diary:
- weight changes;
- energy value of the diet;
- blood pressure readings at least twice during the day;
- and other parameters recommended by the doctor.
The information set out in the diary of self-monitoring for diabetes mellitus will allow the doctor to objectively assess the quality of treatment and timely adjust the therapy or give appropriate recommendations on nutrition, prescribe physiotherapy. Constant monitoring of the disease and regular therapy of this disease will help maintain the individual’s body at the required level, and if necessary, take urgent measures to normalize the condition.