I’ve reached that point where I can no longer ignore the numbers.

At 41, my body doesn’t bounce back the way it used to. I’m currently at 77 kg, and for my height, that puts me in the overweight category. But more than just the weight on the scale, I’ve become fixated on a different set of numbers: my blood sugar.

In the Philippines, our culture is built around food—mostly white rice, sweet sauces, and late-night meriendas. We’re told these things are “fine in moderation,” but I want to know exactly what “fine” looks like for my specific body. I’m tired of guessing if a bowl of sinigang with two cups of rice is “okay” or if it’s sending my glucose into a tailspin.

This diary isn’t about medical advice or telling anyone else how to live. It’s a personal experiment born out of a need for clarity. I’m starting this because I want to see the direct impact of every bite I take. No more generalizations or generic health tips from Western websites that don’t understand what a Filipino diet actually looks like.

To get the most accurate data, I’m committing to a strict 15-hour fast before every test. I want to see the “raw” effect of food on a clean slate.

I’m doing this for accountability. It’s one thing to eat a donut in private; it’s another thing entirely to eat it knowing I have to record the spike and post it for the world to see. This is my journey from guesswork to data. One prick, one test, and one day at a time.