Dear Ginger,

Back again...and still no changes to the way that I handle things. I try and try and nothing has changed. I still find it hard to remember to take my insulin and I still find it hard to watch what I eat and when I eat. I don't know what to do at this point anymore. I want so badly to be healthy but I feel as if I almost don't have the will power, because the people around me don't help me, or try to help me, and honestly, I need all the help that I can get...help? :(

Hey Jessica,

Right off the bat, darlin', I want to tell you that being healthy is not out of your reach just because it's incredibly challenging right now.

Here's the thing:

Willpower is not something we have or don't have. Willpower is something we apply or don't apply. And when you look at it like that, maybe it kind of sucks, but on the other hand, you could also look at it realize that it is up to you! It means that you DO have control over this situation.

For example, yeah, late at night, I crave sweets--chocolate to be exact. Hershey's chocolate. That's not going to change, because I love chocolate. But right after my brain says, "Ginger, get yourself a Hershey's Bar," there's also a voice that says, "Hold up. Wait a minute. You don't need that."

It's easier to listen to the first voice and get some chocolate. It's more worthwhile, though, to listen to my wiser voice, use willpower, resist the urge to get chocolate and fill my head with positive thoughts reminding myself why this is a good decision for me.

Making good choices for ourselves is not supposed to always be easy! If you're waiting for it to feel easy to have diabetes, you're going to be waiting a long time! This disease takes a lot of work, continually. I know a lot about my body and my diabetes and I still don't get it right all the time.

And even when I do get it right for half the day, I may not always maintain good control over my blood sugar later in the evening between balancing yoga class, exercise, dinner, going to a movie with a friend, etc.

And that's okay.

The important thing, though, I think, is that you realize this disease does take a lot of work. And in the end, YOU are the only one who can help yourself make the major changes that will lead to feeling healthy.

Doctors can tell you how much insulin you need, your mom can remind you to change your pump infusion or to take your lantus, but in the end, YOU are the one who is in control of it all. And that's a lot of responsibility, but if you think about it one day at a time, you can do it. Maybe not perfectly, but that's okay. But you've got to keep trying.

If one attempt or method doesn't help you get back on track, don't give up--find a new method, find a new doctor, try a different insulin, try insulin pens or syringes or the pump or the continuous glucose monitor. There are so many options for you and so many people willing to help you help yourself.

Either way, you get a handful of points every day for just getting through the day with Type 1 Diabetes, because it's a big-time responsibility, no matter what age we are.