The following are excerpts from different chapters of "Diabetes Your Way":

“You are unique.  Your experiences, personality, temperament, values and beliefs are different from everyone else.  How can diabetes management possibly be the same for everyone?  We know the basics of diabetes self-management from years of research.  Healthcare providers have a vast amount of knowledge and skills to help you be successful.  Being able to communicate questions and concerns to your provider will open up doors to discussions that will help you further examine how best to manage your diabetes.

            Chances are you already have a bit of knowledge about diabetes and may even be an expert.  In fact, you are the expert.  Only you know your body best and how you respond to different issues that affect your blood sugar and overall level of diabetes control.  Control…this is interesting to me.  Who or what is in control?  Seriously, think about your day from the moment you get up.  If you could spend your day without regard to managing your diabetes, how would you want your day to look?  Can you make adjustments in your diabetes routine to spend your days the way you want to?”

“You may be saying, “I Don’t Want to Change!” and that is okay.  Forcing someone to make a change never works.  Let’s face it.  Someone may tell us that we need to eat these specific foods because they are the healthy options.  I know that there are a number of things on that list that everyone will say, “I don’t eat that”. Instead of looking at what is a good option and a bad option, why not make a check mark next to everything you like, regardless of where it is on the list.  If you have more on the unhealthy list than the healthy list, what does that tell you? 

There is a way to balance things out with portion sizes.  You know what foods are healthy and you know what junk food is.  If you choose to eat mostly junk food, the consequence is an unhealthy body, elevated blood sugar and long term complications.  I believe even the pickiest eater can find a way to benefit from their nutrition.  Everything is a balance.  You may not want to change your lifestyle today or even in the future.  What you can do, is make your lifestyle work for you.  Work hard on the positive things you do for yourself as they become habit.  Educate yourself so you understand the consequences of your choices to help you make decisions that are best for you.”