Fond du Lac Diabetes Program

Food Records for Better Diabetes Control

Writing notes in your blood sugar logbook about what you eat and your daily activities can help you understand blood sugar patterns and help you identify needed changes for better control. When your blood glucose level is out of your target range, refer to your logbook and ask yourself a few questions:

Did I take my usual dose of insulin or medication at the usual time?
Did I eat my usual amount of carbohydrate at the usual time?
Am I feeling stressed or ill?
Did my activity level change?
Did I drink alcohol?

If your blood glucose is consistently elevated or you have frequent episodes of low blood glucose, consult your health-care team.

Carbohydrate intake (fruits, grains, breads, legumes, vegetables, sweets, milk & yogurt) can explain much of the variation you may see in blood glucose levels. A healthy diet includes variety with consistent carbohydrate, moderate protein and moderate fat.

Food records can also help you improve your eating habits. Many people are unaware of what and how much they eat in a day. People who keep food records are more successful at reaching their goals. Food records track what, when, where and how much you eat. They show how you prepare foods and your thoughts and feelings while eating. They reflect how your food choices are affected by mood, stress, environment, the people around you and other social influences. They can help you see which foods and eating habits would be most useful to adjust for weight control. Food records can help you monitor the quality of your diet. Do you eat five servings of fruits and vegetables each day? Do you meet the guideline for 25-30 grams of fiber daily? How often do you eat out? Do you skip meals or graze while watching TV?

You need to know what your usual eating patterns are before you can make positive changes. Pick one area to work on at a time such as: increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables, drinking more water, changing to low fat milk, eating 3 meals a day, limiting fried foods and rich dishes to once a week, choosing leaner meats, cutting back on butter or margarine and eating until satisfied verses full.

Schedule an appointment with Jennifer Hall, the new dietitian, to learn more about carbohydrate counting & get a meal plan that fits your lifestyle and nutrition needs.

Weight Loss & Nutrition Myths

Myth: Skipping meals is a good way to lose weight.

Fact: Your body needs a certain amount of calories and nutrients each day in order to work properly. If you skip meals during the day, you will be more likely to make up for those missing calories by snacking or eating more at the next meal. Studies show that people who skip breakfast tend to be heavier than those who eat a nutritious breakfast. A healthier way to lose weight is to eat many small meals throughout the day that include a variety of nutritious, low-fat, and low-calorie foods. With diabetes, skipping a meal after taking insulin or diabetes medication greatly increases the risk of low blood glucose levels.