Practical examples of how to create a blood sugar log that you’ll actually use

Real-world examples of how to create a blood sugar log

Let’s skip the theory and jump straight into what this looks like in real life. When people ask for examples of how to create a blood sugar log, what they really want is, “Show me what someone like me would actually write down.”

Below are several styles people commonly use: paper, digital, and hybrids. As you read, notice which examples feel natural to you. The best examples are the ones you can picture yourself using every day without dreading it.

Example of a simple paper blood sugar log for beginners

If you’re just getting started or feel overwhelmed by data, a simple paper log can be your best friend. One of the most helpful examples of how to create a blood sugar log on paper is a basic daily table you repeat for each day.

Imagine one page per day with these columns:

• Time
• Blood sugar (mg/dL)
• Before/After (meal or event)
• Medication/Insulin
• Notes

A typical day might look like this written out:

• 7:00 AM – 118 mg/dL – Fasting – Took metformin 500 mg. Slept badly.
• 8:00 AM – 142 mg/dL – 1 hour after breakfast – Oatmeal, berries, coffee with cream.
• 12:15 PM – 126 mg/dL – Before lunch – Light walk mid-morning.
• 1:15 PM – 165 mg/dL – 1 hour after lunch – Turkey sandwich, apple, small bag of chips.
• 6:30 PM – 129 mg/dL – Before dinner – Very stressed at work.
• 7:45 PM – 183 mg/dL – 1 hour after dinner – Pasta, salad, bread.
• 10:00 PM – 137 mg/dL – Bedtime – 20-minute walk after dinner.

This is one of the best examples for someone new to logging because:

• You only track what you actually use in conversation with your doctor.
• The notes column helps you connect patterns: poor sleep, stress, or a big pasta dinner.

Doctors and diabetes educators often recommend bringing this kind of paper log to visits. The CDC highlights how tracking blood sugar, meds, and lifestyle together can help you and your care team adjust your plan over time (CDC Diabetes Management).

Weekly overview log: an example of seeing patterns at a glance

Once you’re comfortable testing and recording, you may want a weekly view. Another popular example of how to create a blood sugar log is a one-page weekly grid.

Picture a sheet with days of the week across the top and times down the side. For instance:

• Rows: Fasting, Before Breakfast, After Breakfast, Before Lunch, After Lunch, Before Dinner, After Dinner, Bedtime
• Columns: Monday through Sunday

You jot just the numbers in the grid (e.g., 112, 145, 168), and keep notes in a small space at the bottom like:

• “Mon: Sick with a cold, higher numbers.”
• “Wed: Extra gym session, more lows in afternoon.”
• “Sat: Birthday party, more carbs at dinner.”

These weekly examples of examples of how to create a blood sugar log are great for spotting trends:

• Are Mondays always higher after lunch?
• Are weekends consistently higher after dinner?
• Are bedtime numbers creeping up over the month?

This style also makes it easier to see if you’re hitting targets most of the time. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) shares typical target ranges for many adults with diabetes, like 80–130 mg/dL before meals and under 180 mg/dL after meals, though your goals may differ (ADA via NIH).

Spreadsheet example of a blood sugar log for data lovers

If you like data and graphs, a spreadsheet can be one of the best examples of how to create a blood sugar log that works long-term.

In a tool like Google Sheets or Excel, you might set up columns like:

• Date
• Time
• Blood sugar (mg/dL)
• Fasting / Before meal / After meal / Bedtime
• Meal description
• Carbs (grams)
• Medication/Insulin dose
• Exercise (type + minutes)
• Notes (stress, illness, menstrual cycle, travel, etc.)

Over time, you can:

• Sort by time of day to see if mornings are always higher.
• Filter for “After meal” readings to see how food affects you.
• Create simple charts to show your 7-day or 30-day trends.

Real examples include people color-coding their spreadsheet: green for in-range, yellow for slightly high, red for very high, blue for lows. This visual cue makes patterns jump out.

If you work with a diabetes educator or endocrinologist, this kind of log can be very helpful. Many clinics are used to reviewing spreadsheet-style logs, and some even upload them into their systems.

App-based examples of how to create a blood sugar log in 2024–2025

In 2024–2025, more people are using apps and connected meters. If you prefer your phone over paper, app-based examples of how to create a blood sugar log might suit you better.

Common features in modern apps:

• Automatic import from your glucometer or continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
• Quick tags like “Before Breakfast,” “After Lunch,” “Bedtime,” or “Sick.”
• Food logging with carb counts.
• Graphs showing time in range, daily patterns, and weekly summaries.

A realistic example day in an app might look like:

• 6:45 AM – 110 mg/dL – Tagged as “Fasting” – Note: “Woke up early, 5 hours sleep.”
• 8:15 AM – 155 mg/dL – “After Breakfast” – Linked to meal: “2 eggs, toast, orange juice.”
• 12:05 PM – 120 mg/dL – “Before Lunch” – Note: “Walked dog 20 minutes.”
• 1:20 PM – 170 mg/dL – “After Lunch” – Meal: “Chicken salad, crackers.”
• 9:45 PM – 135 mg/dL – “Bedtime” – Note: “Light yoga, feeling relaxed.”

Many apps now sync with wearables or fitness trackers, so your steps and workouts show up next to your readings. That gives you live examples of how to create a blood sugar log that connects movement, food, and glucose.

Organizations like the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) emphasize using technology if it makes self-management easier and more consistent for you (NIDDK Diabetes Technology).

Hybrid example: paper plus app for real-life flexibility

Some of the best examples of logs in the real world are hybrids. Maybe you:

• Use an app or CGM for automatic numbers.
• Keep a small notebook for notes about stress, sleep, and meals.

Here’s an example of how this might work:

• Your CGM automatically records your glucose every 5 minutes.
• You open your notebook after each meal and jot:
  • “12:30 PM – Chicken salad, 1 slice bread, water. Felt hungry again at 3:00.”
  • “6:45 PM – Ate out: burger, fries, soda. Felt very tired after.”

When you review your CGM graph later, you can connect spikes or dips with your written notes. These are powerful examples of how to create a blood sugar log that captures both hard data and how you actually felt.

This style is especially helpful if:

• You’re adjusting medications.
• You’re trying to understand how certain foods affect you.
• You’re working on stress, sleep, or exercise habits.

Examples include specialized logs for specific goals

Not every log has to track everything. Some of the smartest examples of how to create a blood sugar log are short-term and focused on one question.

Here are a few real examples people use:

Example of a “breakfast experiment” log

For two weeks, you only focus on breakfast. You record:

• Fasting number
• What you ate for breakfast
• 1-hour and 2-hour post-breakfast numbers
• How full or hungry you feel

Your notes might look like:

• “Day 1: Oatmeal + banana – 1 hr: 190, 2 hr: 165 – Hungry again at 10:30.”
• “Day 3: Eggs + avocado + 1 slice toast – 1 hr: 145, 2 hr: 125 – Stayed full until lunch.”

This is one of the best examples of a targeted log: it helps you answer, “Which breakfasts keep my blood sugar steadier and keep me satisfied?”

Example of an exercise-focused log

For a month, you track:

• Before-exercise blood sugar
• Type and length of exercise
• After-exercise blood sugar
• Any symptoms (dizzy, shaky, energized, etc.)

Your entries might say:

• “Before: 165 – 30 minutes brisk walk – After: 138 – Felt good.”
• “Before: 120 – 45 minutes strength training – After: 105 – Slightly shaky, had small snack.”

These examples of how to create a blood sugar log help you and your care team adjust exercise timing, snacks, or medication.

Example of a “sick day” log

When you’re ill, blood sugar often runs higher. A short-term sick day log might include:

• Temperature
• Symptoms (cough, sore throat, nausea)
• All blood sugar readings
• Fluids and food
• Medication changes

For instance:

• “Temp 100.4°F, sore throat. 8:00 AM: 185 fasting, sipping broth and water. Extra checks every 4 hours.”

Harvard and other medical centers stress the importance of monitoring more closely during illness and having a sick-day plan with your provider (Harvard Health – Diabetes and illness). Logs like this give you real examples of how to create a blood sugar log that protects you during higher-risk times.

How to choose the best examples of how to create a blood sugar log for you

With so many examples of examples of how to create a blood sugar log, how do you pick one?

Ask yourself:

• How often will I realistically log? If it’s once or twice a day, a simple daily paper log might be enough.
• Do I like tech? If yes, an app or spreadsheet might feel natural.
• What is my current goal? New diagnosis, adjusting insulin, pregnancy, weight loss, or keeping things stable?
• Do I share my log with anyone? A doctor, diabetes educator, or family member might find a certain format easier to review.

Some people keep two styles at once: a big-picture weekly overview plus a focused short-term log (like the breakfast or exercise examples). The best examples are the ones you’ll stick with when life gets busy.

If you try a style for a week and hate it, that’s not failure—that’s useful data. Adjust and try a different example of a log until it fits your routine.

Tips to make any example of a blood sugar log work better

No matter which of these examples of how to create a blood sugar log you choose, a few habits make it far more helpful:

• Write (or tap) immediately. Log the reading as soon as you take it. Waiting “until later” is how numbers get lost.
• Use short, honest notes. “Very stressed,” “ate more than usual,” “skipped lunch,” “late-night snack” are the kind of notes that make your log meaningful.
• Bring your log to appointments. Let your care team see real examples of your days, not just a single A1C number.
• Look for patterns, not perfection. You’re not being graded. The goal is to notice, “Huh, my numbers are always higher on days I skip breakfast,” or “Evening walks really help my bedtime reading.”
• Adjust over time. As your goals change, your log can change too. You might start simple, then add more detail if you begin insulin or a new medication.

Mayo Clinic and other major centers consistently emphasize that tracking helps guide treatment adjustments and gives you more control over daily decisions (Mayo Clinic – Blood sugar testing).

FAQ: Real questions about examples of blood sugar logs

What are some simple examples of a blood sugar log for someone newly diagnosed?

For a new diagnosis, some of the best examples are very simple: a paper log with date, time, blood sugar, and a short note like “before breakfast,” “after lunch,” or “bedtime.” Start with just a few key times per day—fasting, before one or two meals, and before bed. As you get comfortable, you can add more detail.

Can you give an example of what to write in the notes section?

Yes. Real examples include: “Slept only 4 hours,” “Skipped lunch,” “Ate dessert,” “Very stressed about work,” “Walked 30 minutes after dinner,” “Started new medication today,” or “Sick with a cold.” These short notes explain why your numbers might be higher or lower than usual.

What are the best examples of logs for people using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM)?

For CGM users, the device already captures the numbers. The best examples of logs focus on context: food, exercise, stress, sleep, and medication changes. Many people pair their CGM app with a simple notes app or paper notebook to record meals, workouts, and symptoms next to the CGM graphs.

Are app-based examples of how to create a blood sugar log better than paper?

Not automatically. App-based logs can be easier if you like technology, want graphs, or use a connected meter. Paper logs can be better if you like writing things out, don’t want to manage another app, or prefer something you can quickly show your doctor. The best examples are the ones you can maintain consistently.

How many readings should I include in my blood sugar log each day?

It depends on your treatment plan. Some people only log fasting and one or two post-meal readings; others on insulin may log before and after multiple meals plus at bedtime. Your care team can give you a specific plan. Whatever the number, pick one of the examples of how to create a blood sugar log that makes it easy to follow that plan without feeling overwhelmed.

The bottom line: you don’t need a perfect system—you need a practical one. Use these real-world examples of examples of how to create a blood sugar log as starting points, experiment for a week or two, and then shape your log into something that fits your life, your tools, and your goals.