Print Email Share

Dear Diary: Why Keeping a Health Journal Works

Dear Diary: Why Keeping a Health Journal Works

Ever gain five pounds and really have no idea what could have caused it? You’ve been eating as you normally do and getting your regular walks in. Except maybe you forgot to account for those pieces of birthday cake at the office, the sampling around the table at a recent dinner with friends, or the missed exercise due to a stretch of bad weather. It’s easy to forget, or ignore, the little things that can quickly add up to bigger problems.

So how do you keep a handle on your health care habits? Since having someone follow you around with a video camera all day is probably not an option (unless you have your own reality TV show), keeping a written diary or log of things like food, exercise, and blood sugar test results is the next best way to get an accurate picture of your healthcare habits.

What is a Health Diary, or Journal?
Any written or electronic record you keep of health-related activities (e.g., eating, exercise), of regular test results (e.g., blood glucose, weight), or of your physical or emotional status (e.g., logging pain symptoms, mood changes) can be considered a health diary. Sometimes these diaries are also called logs, trackers, or journals.

While you can log everything from sleep patterns to pulse rate, closely tracking the three key areas of blood sugar, food, and exercise will give you a solid foundation on which to keep tabs on your diabetes.

>>NEXT: What a Health Diary Can Do For You>>