| Jack:
Welcome to the forum. It has helped me a lot ever since I joined earlier this year. Stick around here and you will learn a lot about controlling D and that will motivate you to do the right things.
Just now the following e-mail came in from a pharmaceutical company to which I subscribe. May be this will help you.
JayP
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Three Steps to Put Your Diabetes Care Plan into Action
Three steps can set you on your way to putting your diabetes care plan into action: Step 1-Gain Knowledge; Step 2-Set Your Priorities; and Step 3-Take Action. Your diabetes care plan can help you control your diabetes on a day-to-day basis and follow a path toward healthy living for years to come. Learn how Changing Life With Diabetes helps you step through the process of putting your diabetes care plan into action.
Steps 1, 2, and 3 Set You on Your Path Toward Healthy Living
Taking care of your diabetes means making changes. Take one step at a time. Be patient, as changing habits can be challenging-especially when it involves developing new behaviors. Once you are comfortable practicing a new behavior, repeat the 3-step process to change another behavior. Using this process will help you slowly, but surely, put a successful plan into action. Explore the online tools on Changing Life With Diabetes to master these 3 steps:
* Step 1-Gain Knowledge: Experts discuss 7 categories of diabetes self-care behaviors: 1) Healthy eating, 2) Being active, 3) Monitoring, 4) Taking medication, 5) Problem solving, 6) Reducing risks, and 7) Healthy coping. Over time, you'll want to learn about all 7 areas of self-care behavior at Managing Diabetes. To start making changes, choose an area of most interest to you. Then ask yourself, "What old behaviors or habits do I need to change? How would making these changes affect my daily life? When are the changes easiest and hardest for me to make?"
* Step 2-Set Your Priorities: Keep in mind that when people try to make lifestyle changes, they go through several stages. Using My Priorities, you'll find specific actions you can take; depending on what "stage of change" you are at. My Priorities helps you determine what changes to make based on 3 factors: 1) the impact this change can have on your diabetes management; 2) how ready you are to make the change; and 3) how confident you feel to make the change. Once you have identified your plan of action, you are ready to use the Diabetes Care Plan Tool to set your goals.
* Step 3-Take Action: Once you establish your goals, you are ready to put them into action. Perhaps one of your goals is to walk 10 minutes after your lunch break 3 days this week. Perfect! You'll want to track your progress. Use the chart in the Diabetes Care Plan Tool to track the minutes of physical activity you do each day. The Diabetes Care Plan also helps you track your progress, such as weight loss or improvement in A1C. Tracking progress allows you to communicate this information with your healthcare providers. Revisit your Care Plan regularly to track your progress and reset your goals. Pay particular attention to the "Follow-up Care Dates" section, which alerts you of upcoming and overdue care dates.  | 
