# Daily Tracker for Alström Syndrome
A printable, fillable daily tracker designed specifically for the complexity of Alström care. Track what matters: symptoms, medications, glucose (if diabetic), sleep, weight, mood. Print weekly or monthly versions. Use whichever sections apply to your situation.
The tracker has two parts: a daily log (one row per day) and a monthly review (summary at end of each month). Skip sections that don't apply.
Why daily tracking matters
For complex conditions like Alström, patterns emerge over time that aren't obvious in single visits. Daily tracking:
- Documents how the patient is actually doing day-to-day
- Catches early signs of complications (weight gain, glucose changes, sleep issues)
- Provides data for specialist visits ("Here's what we've been seeing")
- Supports medication adjustment decisions
- Helps with insurance and disability documentation
- Identifies triggers and patterns
Especially useful when:
- Diabetes is being managed actively
- Cardiomyopathy is being monitored
- Sleep apnea is in play
- New medication has started
- Recovery from illness or hospitalization
- Pre-pregnancy or pregnancy
Weekly tracking page (printable)
Print one per week. Date the week at the top.
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
DAILY TRACKER — WEEK OF: ___________________
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Weight (kg/lb) ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
Blood pressure
morning ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
evening ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
Glucose (mg/dL or mmol)
fasting / morning ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
pre-lunch ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
pre-dinner ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
bedtime ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
CGM time in range % ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
Insulin
total daily ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
Energy (1-10) ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
Mood (1-10) ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
Sleep
hours ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
quality (1-10) ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
CPAP
used last night Y/N Y/N Y/N Y/N Y/N Y/N Y/N
hours used ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
Medications taken
as prescribed Y/N Y/N Y/N Y/N Y/N Y/N Y/N
if NO, explain below
Exercise
minutes ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
type ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
Symptoms (check all that apply per day)
shortness of breath ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
fatigue (significant) ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
swelling ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
chest discomfort ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
palpitations ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
dizziness ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
headache ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
abdominal pain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
nausea ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
eye discomfort ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
ear pain / drainage ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
urinary issues ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
mood concerns ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
other ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Daily notes / events:
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Mon: ________________________________________________________
Tue: ________________________________________________________
Wed: ________________________________________________________
Thu: ________________________________________________________
Fri: ________________________________________________________
Sat: ________________________________________________________
Sun: ________________________________________________________
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════Simplified version (if the full tracker is too much)
For families who don't need detail every day, a simplified version covers the essentials.
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ SIMPLIFIED WEEKLY TRACKER — Week of: ____________________ ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Each day, note 3 things: Day | How was overall? (1-10) | Anything notable? ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Monday | _____ | _________________________ Tuesday | _____ | _________________________ Wednesday | _____ | _________________________ Thursday | _____ | _________________________ Friday | _____ | _________________________ Saturday | _____ | _________________________ Sunday | _____ | _________________________ Weekly summary / trends to mention to doctor: __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Monthly review page
At the end of each month, review the daily logs and summarize:
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ MONTHLY REVIEW — Month: ____________________ ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ WEIGHT TREND THIS MONTH: Starting weight: ____ Ending weight: ____ Change: ____ Pattern: stable / gradual gain / gradual loss / fluctuating BLOOD PRESSURE TREND: Average morning: ____ Average evening: ____ Pattern: stable / elevated / improving GLUCOSE TREND (if applicable): Average HbA1c-equivalent: ________ Hypoglycemic events: _____ this month Hyperglycemic events: _____ this month ENERGY / MOOD TREND: Best week: ___________________ Hardest week: _________________ SLEEP TREND: Average hours: ________ CPAP compliance: _____% nights MEDICATION ADHERENCE: Estimated %: _____% Issues: ________________________________________________ EXERCISE: Total minutes this month: ________ Most common type: _______________ SYMPTOMS THIS MONTH: Most frequent: ________________________________________ Concerning patterns: __________________________________ HEALTHCARE EVENTS: Visits this month: ____________________________________ ER / urgent care: _____________________________________ New medications: ______________________________________ THINGS TO RAISE WITH MEDICAL TEAM: 1. ________________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________________________ WHAT'S WORKING: __________________________________________________________ WHAT'S HARDER THIS MONTH: __________________________________________________________ ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
What to track for which situation
Different situations call for different focus. Here's a quick guide.
After heart-failure recovery (infant cardiomyopathy)
- Weight (daily)
- Symptoms list — especially breathing, fatigue, feeding (kids)
- Medication compliance
- Energy level
- Exercise tolerance
Active diabetes management
- Glucose 4–7 times daily (or CGM data)
- Insulin doses
- Carb counting
- Hypoglycemia events
- Time in range
- Energy
Post-cochlear implant
- Hours wearing processor
- Listening situations attempted
- Speech understanding moments
- Battery / device issues
- Vertigo or other side effects
Pre-pregnancy / pregnancy
- All cardiac and metabolic measures
- Weight (more frequently)
- Blood pressure (more frequently)
- Symptoms
- Exercise
- Medication management
Post-surgery / recovery
- Pain (1-10)
- Wound site
- Activity level
- Medications
- Symptoms
Mental health monitoring
- Mood (1-10)
- Sleep
- Energy
- Activities engaged in
- Concerning thoughts
- Therapy / medication compliance
Digital tracker alternatives
If physical tracking doesn't fit, digital options:
Apps
- Health apps (Apple Health, Google Fit) — basic vitals, exercise, sleep
- Diabetes-specific (mySugr, Glucose Buddy) — for active diabetes management
- Symptom trackers (Bearable, Symple) — flexible symptom tracking
- Heart-failure apps (HF Path, others) — weight and symptom monitoring
- Custom spreadsheet — flexible, syncs across devices
Patient portals
Many hospital systems integrate with home tracking. Data flows directly to your medical record.
Wearables
- CGM (Dexcom, Libre)
- Smart watches (track HR, sleep, activity)
- Smart scales (sync weight to apps)
- Continuous BP monitors
Voice tracking
For users with vision loss, voice-based tracking through apps with screen-reader support, smart speakers, or notes apps with voice memos can replace handwritten logs.
Tips for sustainable tracking
Start small
Don't try to track everything from day one. Pick 3 things that matter most. Add more as the habit forms.
Track at consistent times
Morning weight, bedtime glucose check, etc. Routines make it easier.
Pair with existing routines
Track right after taking medications. Right after brushing teeth. After putting kids to bed.
Don't beat yourself up over gaps
A week of incomplete data is better than nothing. Pick up where you left off.
Review monthly
Looking at trends matters more than daily perfection. The monthly review is where insights happen.
Bring trackers to appointments
The data is more useful when shared with the medical team. They see things you might miss.
When tracking flags something to action
Patterns that should prompt a call:
Weight
- Sudden gain (2-3 lb over 1-2 days) — possible heart-failure decompensation
- Sustained loss without trying — possible new issue
- Pattern of fluctuation — possible fluid management issue
Blood pressure
- Persistently elevated readings — needs attention
- Sudden changes from baseline — call
Glucose
- Frequent hypoglycemia — medication adjustment needed
- Sustained hyperglycemia — investigation needed
- Unexpected pattern changes — call endocrinology
Symptoms
- Increase in cardiac symptoms — call cardiology
- New symptoms — call relevant specialist
- Persistent / worsening anything — call
Mood
- Persistent low mood — mental health support
- Withdrawal from activities — assessment needed
- Suicidal thoughts — immediate care (988 in US, Samaritans 116 123 UK)
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I keep these records?
Indefinitely. They're the historical record of your or your child's health. Digital storage is fine. Bring relevant portions to specialist visits.
My medical team didn't ask about my tracking. Is it useful?
Yes. Many medical teams don't proactively ask but use the data when offered. Bring your records and ask, "Would these help?"
What if my child doesn't want to track?
For older children and teens, ownership matters. Engage them in choosing what and how to track. Let them lead. The data is theirs.
Should everyone track?
Not necessarily daily forever. Track during active phases (after diagnosis, during medication changes, during pregnancy, after surgery, during illness) and ease off during stable periods.
Related reading
- Care Binder Template
- Personalized Surveillance Schedule
- Cardiac Monitoring Schedule for Alström Syndrome
- Type 2 Diabetes in Alström Syndrome
- Managing Diabetes When You're Blind
This tracker is for informational and self-management purposes. Trends and concerning patterns should be reviewed with your medical team.