I leave nothing to chance. Ever mindful of portion and calorie creep, I weigh out my food so I can get an accurate calorie and nutrition count for all I eat. 

When I was diagnosed, my primary care physician strongly recommended (an understatement) that I start an immediate exercise regime. At the time, my diabetes was full blown and out of control. From the get-go, I started walking 2-4 miles daily. Not only did I see an immediate correlation to my daily blood tests, I saw other benefits like weight loss ( 50 lbs to date) and I started feeling great!

My daily schedule changed overnight when I was diagnosed. No more nights working in front of my computer for hours. It took a couple of weeks to get into the habit of walking nightly after dinner, but the results  were motivational. Worth noting, I was diagnosed in January, and live in New Hampshire. Walking nightly required a commitment, as well as a large supply of mittens, scarves, hats, boots, and the like. If you can walk nightly on a dark January night, you can walk under any conditions!  My MP3 player has been my constant companion. 

Leaving nothing to guesswork, my meter has become my wellness gauge. Though I originally needed to test three times daily, my CDE has me testing 1x daily. Over the first month or two after my diagnosis, my test results were motivational as I watched my numbers drop with every pound. 

I heeded the call. "Take care of your feet" my doctor cautioned. As my nightly walking increased, it became fast apparent that I needed a good pair of walking shoes. No longer will I buy discount shoes. I invested in a nice pair of walking shoes and have not regretted it. No blisters, comfortable walks, healthier life.  Pretty simply concepts.

Yes, there is a pattern here. I can forget what I ate for lunch on any given day. From day one, I started journaling my food. My method is simple.  I devote a single page per day. In the left margin, I note the meal.  In the center, I note the food, with the right side reserved for adding up calories and carbs. The header of every page has sections for the date, my weight, and blood test results. It's helpful to scroll back over a few months as it's a tangible record of my progress and commitment.

Recommended by a friend who is also a diabetic, this has fast become my most valuable calorie/carb counting resource. It has over 11,000 food listings Whether I am heading out for dinner, or looking to track what I am cooking at home, this small pocket guide has never let me down. Included as well are listings for many commercial restaurants as well. For $8.00, this book can be ordered online at the Calorie King Website!

The type of exercise is not as important as the commitment to exercise. As a younger man, I was a distance cycler. I "graduated" from walking to biking after two months of daily walking. I am now putting 10-20 miles behind me with every ride. Though well-intended, the local bike shops wanted me to spend $1,000 (or more) for a street bike. I am currently riding a Schwinn Prelude.  It's an aluminum frame, entry level all-street bike.  Mine came from TARGET at under $200.00!

There is no victory without help. I am blessed to have an amazing team helping me toward wellness. A special thanks to Dr. Suetta Tenney of Shawsheen Medical Associates and Susan Langevin, CDE. Providing both support, encouragement and direct guidance, without their help, wellness would not be possible. Thank you!