Diabetes guides
Short, sourced answers to common questions about tracking diabetes, grouped by topic.
Blood sugar basics
Units, A1c, time in range and the types of diabetes, explained in plain language.
mg/dL vs mmol/L
What mg/dL and mmol/L mean, which countries use each, how to convert between them, and how to avoid unit mix-ups when you log blood sugar.
Blood sugar basicsA1c vs daily readings
How A1c differs from daily blood sugar readings, what estimated average glucose (eAG) means, and why the two numbers do not always match.
Blood sugar basicsTime in range
Time in range is the share of the day your glucose stays between 70 and 180 mg/dL. How it is calculated and what the international consensus says.
Blood sugar basicsGMI explained
The glucose management indicator (GMI) estimates A1c from the average glucose on a CGM. The formula, a table and why it can differ from your lab A1c.
Blood sugar basicsTypes of diabetes
The main types of diabetes in plain language: type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes and prediabetes, and how they differ.
Food and carbs
Balanced plates, reading labels and how to think about the glycemic index.
The plate method
How to build a balanced plate with the plate method: half non-starchy vegetables, a quarter protein and a quarter high-fibre carbohydrate.
Food and carbsReading labels for carbs
How to find carbohydrates on a nutrition label: serving size, total carbohydrate, fibre and added sugars, with a simple way to work out your portion.
Food and carbsGlycemic index
What the glycemic index (GI) measures, how foods are rated low, medium or high, and why portion size and the rest of the meal still matter.
Daily habits and self-care
Simple routines that make tracking easier: diaries, walking, sleep and foot checks.
Blood sugar diary
A practical guide to keeping a blood sugar diary: what to record, why context matters, and a simple template you can copy.
Daily habits and self-careWalking after meals
What research says about short walks after eating, how much activity guidelines recommend, and safety points to discuss with your care team.
Daily habits and self-careSleep and stress
How poor sleep and stress are linked to blood sugar, what the research found, and how a simple diary can show your own patterns.
Daily habits and self-careDaily foot checks
Why the CDC and NIDDK advise checking your feet every day with diabetes, what to look for, and when to contact your doctor.
Daily habits and self-carePrepare for an appointment
What to bring to a diabetes appointment, which numbers to summarize and a list of questions to ask your care team.
Daily habits and self-careLogging insulin
What to write when you record an insulin dose: name, units, time and context. A guide to keeping an accurate record without calculating doses.
Parents, carers and pregnancy
Keeping a diary for a child, and what to track with gestational diabetes.
A diary for your child
Practical tips for parents and carers keeping a diabetes diary for a child: what to record, who logs it, and how to share it with the care team.
Parents, carers and pregnancyGestational diabetes tracking
What gestational diabetes is, the readings care teams commonly ask pregnant women to record, and how to keep a clear diary for appointments.