I'm all tuckered out! I must be in worse shape than I thought! Chocolate was ... actually, is, as part of it sitting on plate beside keyboard ... a nice treat. o j

erica, I hope your stress level is less than it has been and you're getting some rest. It sounds like you did well with some of the things you had in place, and eliminating the ones that added stress. I put my entire phone directory into my cell phone. Now I know that doesn't seem like a novel idea to most, but having those restaurant numbers in my phone so I could call ahead a take-out order, or the numbers of all the siblings (and their mobiles) help immensely. I also carry an extra cell phone battery and keep in charged so I don't run out of power. When I change batteries, I make sure to charge the one that's run down that night so I'm covered. I keep a small folder (like a checkbook cover) for receipts. That way, if I'm buying things for someone else (like my mother), I know exactly where they are. I hear you about reading material you don't have to return to the library. I keep a few paperbacks just for those times, that I pick up second hand or at Half-Price Books. Pre-portioning food and having it ready to go in the fridge/freezer helps a lot. In fact, I still do this so I can fix it when I have the time/energy. I also pre-portion things in little snack bags like crackers, peanut m&m's, pretzels, and have string cheese and peanut butter sandwiches always ready to go. I often make three or four sandwiches, cut them in half or thirds, and put them in the fridge. It's easy to toss any of this with some fruit in a lunch bag so you have something healthy when you just don't have the energy to deal with it. Hospital food is the pits. I've been drinking flavored carbonated water, which makes me feel like I'm having a soda, without all the sugar, to keep my energy more level. I keep a basket of cards (with stamps) that I can send at any time, so if you need a Thank You to someone who's been a Godsend, you don't have to shop for a card. As far as Vitamins go, my daily allotments go in small paper cups, so I can stack them in the cabinet. This way I don't have to measure them all out, and can grab it to go when I need to. I like your idea of laundry and exercise; you're taking care of yourself, which is the best thing you can do. Thanks for your tips; I'm sure you'll discover some more as you go through this ordeal. Don't forget to come back and tell us about them.

Returned to MD on Friday morning...as suspected Class II Diabetes, Adult Onset. Starting out with morning BS stick and one pill with evening meal...boo...who...no more/or significantly reduced consumption of bread, (white) potatoes, pasta, corn, etc. all the good stuff, exercise, exercise, exercise, plus classes 3 times over the next couple of months... But, on the upside...this will help me to lose those extra pounds, feel better, have more energy...and if anyone at my house had the energy and was interested, more "fun" in the bedroom...hehehehh I was able to stick my finger this a.m. without a lot of difficulty and those little machines are very fast...MD said to buy a monitor that I could get the blood slips and needles for most anywhere and I didn't need all of those fancy bells and whistles...he's always thrifty. Found a great one on sale at CVS (onetouch) for about $15.00 compared to those bell and whistle ones he was talking about that are $100 & up, accessories can be purchased at Walmarts and other pharmacies! BS was down 32 points this morning after only one pill yesterday. Whew! MD even said, when we get it more under control,, I can have a piece of bread occasionally, but in the meantime I should remember this, "The minute your saliva touches a bite of bread, it begins to turn to sugar."

Unfortunately, I am very lax on exercising... I used to go to the pool and exercise when I lived in former town, but it got to the place the chemicals made me itch and break out so badly that my skin bled... I walked 3-4 miles a day...then came 3 joint replacements and arthritis in every joint in my body and I have constant pain. The surgeon who relpaced one of my hips, cut the nerves and I walk with a terrible wabble and it feels like it is caving in with each step, and no fixing it...the nerves are dead....so makes my back hurt and have terrible balance when I do try to walk. I have gained a lot of weight and it know it makes all of my health problems worse..plus I am blessed with tremors in my hands..so I think I have just given up on extending my years. I am able to keep up with my house and take care of my personal needs, but life has lost its "fun" for me any more.