Diet Symptom Diary
It seems simple enough. Whether you have a confirmed functional hypoglycemia diagnosis or you’re still searching for that doctor or test to give you a definitive answer as to why your symptoms may be due to low blood sugar…you just want your symptoms under control.
Unfortunately, it’s not that easy for a great number of individuals who are looking for a pill, quick fix or overnight remedy.
Roberta Ruggiero, author of The Do’s and Don’t;s of Hypoglycemia: An Everyday Guide to Low Blood Sugar, states:
”Once diagnosed it took several years of sorting through a mass of confusing and complicated information. Due to the unfamiliarity with the stages of recuperation, the controversy surrounding its treatment, and non-acceptance from many in the medical community, I found myself with the feeling of being the only person in the world suffering from this baffling disease. Eventually, success did come, but alleviating my symptoms was a long and slow process. It would have been quicker if only I had understood the importance of individualizing my diet, the value of vitamins and exercise, and the role a positive attitude plays in the healing process. Above all, if there were other hypoglycemics to lend support and encouragement, the road back to health would not have been so rocky. Faith, patience, determination and the boundless love of my family were the cornerstones to my recovery.”
After five editions of Roberta’s book, (the latest in 2017) there is one recommendation that she insists be at the top of her list: “To stabilize and control you hypoglycemia symptoms, a diet/symptom diary is crucial!”
DO — Keep a daily account of everything you eat for one week to ten days. In one column, list every bit of food, drink and medication that you take and at what time. In the second column, list your symptoms and the time at which you experience them. Very often you will see a correlation between what you have consumed and your symptoms. When you do, eliminate those foods or drinks that you notice are contributing to your behavior and note the difference.
DO NOT STOP MEDICATION. If you believe that your medication may be contributing to your symptoms, contact your physician.
A diet diary is your personal blueprint: a clear overall view of what you are eating, digesting and assimilating. It can be the first indicator that something is wrong and, perhaps, a very inexpensive way of correcting a very simple problem. Click on the screenshot below to view a sample Diet Symptom Diary that you can easily adapt/adopt to meet your needs.
Correlating what you eat with symptoms using a diet-symptom diary may be a valuable next step in understanding what is driving your blood sugar health – and may be useful information for your health care provider.
Here we provide a sample tool for you to use – you can easily adapt it to your own liking:
Google form: not editable (click file, save a copy, then use). Excel (.xlsx version available here for download.
