Writing things down can help you to:
- Keep a record of your progress
- Notice patterns and decide if you want to make changes
- Remember successful changes
- Work out what to do when things go wrong
- Work with your diabetes team to manage your diabetes and develop a treatment plan
My bolus/quick acting (QA) insulin: ……………………………………………………………………………….
My basal /long acting (BI) insulin:…………………………………………………………………………………..
Checking your blood glucose levels to help with Carbohydrate Counting
Regular checking can help you identify patterns to see what affects your blood glucose levels.
Usual times to test your blood glucose are as follows:
- Before breakfast: to find out what your blood glucose level is when it is least affected by food. Target level is 5.0 – 7.0mmol/L
- Before each main meal: target level is 4.0 -7.0mmol/L
- Before bed: to see if you need carbohydrate to adjust up to target level of 5.0 – 9.0mmol/L
To manage your diabetes, you will need to check your blood glucose more often at times when your insulin requirements are changing e.g.
- Driving—by law you need to test before driving. Blood glucose levels must be 5mmol/L or above
- If you are exercising or your work is very strenuous
- When you’re unwell
- When you’re drinking alcohol
- When you’re very stressed
- If you have an infection
- Before menstruation
An example of how to fill in your diary overleaf

The diary pages are not shown here but can be seen in the PDF to download and will be in the printed version you will be given.