The best we can do is the best we can do. Does that make sense? Making a serious lifestyle change — and trying to find your way after being diagnosed with a chronic illness requires one if you want to be healthy and live a long life — is a challenge at best. It’s scary and overwhelming. There is so much to learn and old habits to break — or more realistically, old habits to replace with new ones. You have to learn about the condition and learn how to manage it. You have to unlearn some of the crappy habits and behaviors that may have contributed to you getting to where you are right now. You have to find a way to do everything you need to do while your daily life still requires all of your energy and effort. A full-time job, a home, a spouse, kids, pets, other obligations any or all of these may be part of your current, day-to-day life. How do you keep up with all of your current stuff and take the time and energy you need to tackle this new challenge? The answer? You just do. You’ll probably have to ask for help — from your doctor, family, friends, whomever. But YOU have to find a way. You cannot fulfill all of those other obligations if you are not healthy. No one in your life is going to want you to live a shorter life because you didn’t stop to take the time NOW to do what you have to do. Take some time. Learn what you can to get you started. Find a way to carry out the most important parts of your treatment: When and how to take your meds, when and how to take your sugars, and when and how to eat differently. Fit in a bit of exercise (which in truth is the thing that made the most difference for me personally). There will be some trial and error: Which foods blow you out of the water and which ones are okay for you? What kinds of substitutions can you make that will allow you to eat healthy and still enjoy your food? What combination of glucose levels, eating, exercise, and rest will allow you to keep your sugars in a healthy range — not too high and definitely not low? It won’t be easy and it won’t be quick, but YOU CAN DO IT! If I can, anyone can. I promise it will be worth the effort. You will feel better and live a longer and better life. Your disease will become less and less of an issue because you are managing it. It won’t stop you from being who you want to be or doing what you want to do. Remember: Be smart. Be healthy. Live YOUR life!