Should you track your blood sugar?

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Blood sugar tracking is a frequent topic of conversation in the health and wellness world in 2024, with many monitoring their bodies' reactions to different foods and drinks throughout the day. But what exactly is it good for, and why are so many people giving it a try? Dr Ian Campbell shares his expert opinion on the current obsession with blood sugar tracking.

For over 30 years, Dr Campbell has passionately promoted a holistic approach to weight management. He was the show doctor on three seasons of ITV's Biggest Loser and works closely with Nutracheck to help our members live healthier, happier lives. Here, we speak to him about this craze.

What are the fundamentals of blood sugar tracking?

Monitoring blood sugar levels is important for those with type 1 diabetes, some with type 2 diabetes and in some other conditions; allowing them to keep track of when these levels may be excessively high or low, which can create adverse symptoms and potentially life threatening situations.

How do different foods affect your blood sugar levels?

Foods that contain high levels of carbs and sugars may cause your blood sugar to rise, which for someone with type 1 diabetes, whose body does not naturally produce the hormone insulin at a high-enough level to break it down means they may need to have a dose of insulin. For those without diabetes, the pancreas will naturally produce insulin as a response to these high levels of sugar.

So why do we need to track our blood sugar levels if our body reacts accordingly anyway?

The movement in blood sugar tracking has, in part, offered individuals a chance to 'personalise' their nutritional choices – for somebody who finds they regularly experience low blood sugar levels with their current diet, they may make choices to counteract this. The principles are great – but it's not necessarily a holistic approach to making healthy choices in your diet.

As an expert, do you think this is a valid solution for tracking your health? If not, why not?

Tracking your blood sugar may be helpful in allowing you to tailor your weight loss dietary approach to your own lifestyle. There is no clear evidence that measuring your blood sugar will cause you to lose more weight that with straightforward dietary restriction and calorie counting. But if it allows you a focus and greater awareness of what particular foods or meals do to you, then it may help contribute towards a more successful weight loss programme in general.