How paired testing works
This method is often called paired testing. You take two readings around the same meal: one just before you start eating and one about 2 hours after you started. The second number minus the first is how much that meal moved your blood sugar.
One pair tells you little. Ten or twenty pairs, each with a note about what you ate, start to show a clear picture: the breakfast that always sends you high, the dinner that barely moves the needle, the portion size where things change.
How to fill in the log
- Test just before the meal and write the number in the Before column.
- Test about 2 hours after you started eating and write it in the After column.
- In the meal column, write what you ate and roughly how much, for example "pasta, large plate" or "2 slices toast, jam".
- Use Notes for anything else that day: a walk after dinner, a stressful day, feeling unwell.
Tips for a fair test
- Keep the timing the same for every after-meal reading.
- Change one thing at a time. If you want to test a smaller portion, keep the rest of the meal the same.
- Repeat a meal two or three times before drawing a conclusion. One high reading can have other causes.
- Run the test for one to two weeks, then take the log to your doctor or dietitian.
How to read your results
Look for meals with much bigger jumps than the others, and for the same food giving similar jumps each time. Ask your doctor or dietitian what rise after a meal is fine for you. They can help you turn the pattern into changes that suit your treatment.
Not medical advice. This log is a place to write down your numbers. Your target range, testing times and doses come from your doctor, diabetes nurse or clinic.
Questions
Should I test 1 hour or 2 hours after eating?
Many clinics use 2 hours after the start of the meal. If yours asks for 1 hour, rename the After columns before printing.
Do I need to test every meal every day?
No. Many people test one meal a day and change which meal over the week. Leave the other boxes empty.
Can I track carbs instead of writing what I ate?
Yes. Under Food and notes, switch Meal columns show to Carbs (g).
Is this only for diabetes?
It is mostly used by people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, but anyone who checks their blood sugar can use it.
Is my information stored anywhere?
No. The log is built in your browser and nothing is uploaded.