A lot of mom's track sugars and food in mobile apps, and it's really convenient, but some of us are just pen-and-paper people.
Some of the links on this page are affiliate links of which I'll earn a small commission if you purchase; however, it's no additional cost to you.
Diabetes logs are for sale everywhere, but gestational diabetes logs are a bit more scarce - there IS a difference. You can find them mainly on Amazon (average $6) and Etsy, and perhaps at your local book store.
Some of the journals can't be viewed until purchase, and that contradicts your pen-and-paper personality. So, this review gives you the peek you need to choose the best log.
Four physical log books from Amazon and two printables from Etsy made the list!
The Difference
Diabetes logs are different from gestational diabetes logs mainly because they don't have enough blood sugar entries per day. If you were to use a regular diabetes log, you'd end up scrunching numbers in, getting it messy, and creating some confusion.
Also, a lot of the time, logs only have space for blood sugars and not meals. With gestational diabetes you want both so you can track patterns and cause and effect.
What a Good Log Should Have
- Neat and organized layout
- Food and blood sugars in the same view/on the same page
- Date and time
- Notes - medication, sleep, stress level, fluid intake, etc.
- 4 months worth of entries - the typical time frame of a GD diagnosis
Everyone has a preference, so these logs aren't ranked, but they are judged on the criteria above.
Don't Waste Your Time
The sellers on Amazon have taken their logs and made multiple covers for them. They all show as separate listings. This is why I tell you who made the log.
Don't waste your time looking through all of the listings for logs because they're really just duplicates with different colors.
Amazon
1. Food Journal & Blood Sugar Log
Even though gestational diabetes isn't specified in the title, it's a fantastic log!
Pros (bonuses in bold)
- Neat and organized layout with plenty of writing space
- A full day's worth of entries in view
- Entries for date, time, weight, and days of the week
- Separate areas for notes, sleep, fluids and exercise
- Nutrient breakdown
- A page to write goals
Cons
- Only 52 days of entries - you'd need 2-3 books
2. Gestational Diabetes Log Book
This log is identical to the first in pros and cons; it just depends on your preference of aesthetics.
Pros (bonuses in bold)
- Neat and organized layout with plenty of writing space
- A full day's worth of entries in view
- Entries for date, time, weight, and days
- Separate areas for notes, sleep, fluids and exercise
- Nutrient breakdown
Cons
- Only 49 days of entries - you'd need 2-3 books
3. Gestational Diabetes Log Book
This log is made by Leanne Harper and has multiple covers.
Pros (bonuses in bold)
- Neat and organized layout with plenty of writing space
- A full day's worth of entries in view
- Entries for date, time, and weight
- Separate areas for notes, fluids, exercise, medicine and mood
- Calorie tracker
- Nutrient breakdown
Cons
- Only 54 days of entries - you'd need 2-3 books
4. Gestational Diabetes Log Book
This journal is made by Journals For All and has multiple covers.
Pros (bonuses in bold)
- Neat and organized layout
- Food and blood sugars in the same view
- Date and days provided
- A full week in view (see con below)
- An entire year of entries - good if you plan to continue after birth
Cons
- Because it offers a full week in view, it's basic in information.
- If your sugars are well controlled, this may not be an issue.
- Small entry space for meals
- Not enough snack entries
- Nowhere to enter fasting sugar
- Can be entered in notes section
- No specific area for fluid, exercise, medicine or sleep
- Can be entered in the large notes section
Etsy
Printables are great because they're instant, cost less and can used as much as you like.
5. Gestational Diabetes Blood Sugar / Food Tracker
The best of both worlds! Despite the cons, this is a favorite.
Pros
- Organized with purpose - one page for meals and a second page for blood sugars
- Combine them in packets by week and easily track trends between carb/protein intake and blood sugar.
- Unlimited pages
Cons
- Food and blood sugars are on different pages BUT for a purpose.
- No entry for time
- can be written alongside or in margin
- No entry for notes, medication, etc.
Click here to purchase.
6. Gestational Diabetes Blood Sugar and Meal Tracker
This tracker is especially great if you haven't been diagnosed yet but are tracking as an alternative to taking the test.
Pros
- Streamlined layout
- Food and blood sugars in same view
- Date entry
- Notes entry
- Unlimited pages
- Post meal blood sugar entry for 1, 2 and 3 hours
Cons
- No entry for times or fasting sugars
- Small entry areas
For a limited time download this free tracker!
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