Getting a little tired of the hundreds of articles and diabetes news stories reminding you that you are at serious risk for eye problems, kidney disease and the loss of your fingers and toes?

 

Me too.

 

We're constantly hearing about the risks, the damage our bodies can endure if we don't take care of ourselves. And it's true that if you take care of yourself -- really take care of yourself, really make diabetes a huge priority in your life -- -that you can avoid and prevent these serious problems.

 

So we're being asked to do our best every day for the rest of our lives (of course, I think they'll find a cure before I'm 40... but I want to be healthy by the time they find that cure). Anyways, my point is, it's a lot work, it's a lot of responsibility to make your body run correctly every day for years and years.

 

And some days -- the occasional overwhelming day -- you just feel like it's just too much to ask... so I have a suggestion.

 

You see, my grandfather really loved this anonymous poem titled "Just For Today"...

 

The idea is to just focus on today's task, on today's blood sugars and today's healthy food and exercise. Don't think about the fact that tomorrow you might have a high blood sugar. Don't think about having to do it every day.

 

Just for today, I will aim for healthy blood sugars. I will eat healthy foods and exercise for at least thirty minutes. Just for today I will check my blood sugar before every meal and before I exercise. Just for today I will drink lots of water and take my vitamins!

It's just for today...

 

It's not nearly as eloquent as the poem (which I've copied below)...but I think you get my point, right? It's okay if you can do it perfectly every day for the rest of your life. It's okay if you mess up, but if you can start the next day with a fresh start and a fresh positive attitude, then you have that day to do it right!

 

When you're not thinking about avoiding candy for an entire week, and just ONE DAY, it doesn't seem so bad. Just for today, give it a try.

 

 

Just for Today

Just for today I will try to live through this day only and not tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

Just for today I will be happy. This assumes to be true what Abraham Lincoln said that, "Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Just for today I will adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my "luck" as it comes and fit myself to it.

Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will study. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out; if anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I don't want to do -- just for exercise. I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt: they may be hurt, but today I will not show it.