I understand completely, Carol, as I have been plagued with health problems all my life, but not issues that would keep me from my daily duties and responsibilities. I realized pretty young that everyone needs a buddy to hold us up and inspire us on our down days, and someone to congratulate our little victories and actually mean it. Sometimes I say that it feels so good to feel good. With allergies I don't often say that, but try to convince myself that I am "normal." A doctor once told me I couldn't be normal if I tried. He is dead and I am still living and doing pretty well. I appreciate being around cheerful people at my age because it means to me that we are some sort of "winners" against the problems of aging and disease. I had a nose bleed at 3:30 a.m. and haven't a clue what that is all about. But I am taking my granddaughter shopping for a Christmas present today. I keep on keeping on. Dorisena

@marvinjsturing I don't know how I lost control. When my feet gave out, I gradually went down hill. I had my husband put the treadmill in storage because I could hardly walk to the kitchen. I have been angry at myself for all of this. It's not like me; I've always been in control and strict with myself. I just gave up. I ignored my diet and said that if I die earlier or later, it doesn't matter. I've been trying to turn myself around and re-think the pros and cons. I finally decided to have my husband put the treadmill back in the house. I have to do it, even if only fifteen minutes a day. It helps and exercise is a key ingredient for diabetes. My numbers have been off the chart. My endocrinologist retired, so I didn't have to be accountable and quit everything. Now I feel more mad than ever for treating myself that way. I am going to start again today. I have diabetes and arthritis and neuropathy and fibromyalgia. That's too much for me because I was never a sickly person until I had to retire. I never saw it coming. But I have to take back myself and start again. Like before, if I begin today, by January 2020, I'll be ahead of all the exercise/gym people who do it a week or two because they made a resolution on New Years. My New Year starts today! Come along with me–just fifteen minutes.
Carol

@retiredteacher Our diabetes stories and lack of sticking to what we know we should do are very similar.
Today is my first day back to really trying, I hope.
As I once read, the day started out well, and then I got of bed. No more of that.
JK

Happy new year to all of us with a tendency towards diabetes! May our 15- minute resolution work well for us!!

@hopeful33250 I am ready. I have worked all morning in the kitchen and will do my 15 minutes after lunch. I have made up my mind. I never liked wimpy people and then I turned into one. No more! I'm taking charge of me! If we can get more people who fell off of the wagon to get back on, we'll have that accountability. I remember how great I felt when I finished the Mayo walking program last year. I know it will save me again! Willie is ready to sing and I am ready to walk, regardless of the pain in my feet.
Carol

@contentandwell I did my 15 minutes on the treadmill which was a 1/2 mile. That's all I could do, and my feet screamed at every step. I don't think there is anything that is going to help the pain, so I had to make a choice. 1) Tolerate the pain or 2) Let the diabetes run rampant and kill me. So I have to choose the pain. Tomorrow I will walk 15 minutes again, regardless of the pain. I have followed my diet strictly today—no snacking and being lazy. I am determined to overcome the problem with my feet to be healthier with my diabetes.
Carol

@retiredteacher Carol, I don't have a treadmill, I do use one at my health club, but I use a recumbent bike at home. That might be good for you since you do not have weight on your feet. I really like mine. I bought it a long time ago at Sears, it's a Schwinn. After the initial use, I gradually stopped using it but then when I was preparing for my 2017 TKR I started using it again and I do use it often. My orthopedic surgeon was very enthusiastic about recumbent bikes, but of course that was for knee therapy, but it's a good activity for anything I think. It was recommended for my brother after he had a heart attack too.
JK

@contentandwell I'm sure a recumbent bike would be far more tolerable on my feet, but I don't have any place to put it. It would need to be on flooring without carpet and we have just put in new flooring and new carpet, so I wouldn't want to have a problem there. The treadmill is an expensive piece of equipment, so I can't just get rid of it. It sits on a brick accent part of the den floor and that's the only available spot. I'm just going to have to go with the treadmill if I can. If I could ever find the right shoes, I think the treadmill would be more tolerable. However, for now, that's going to have to work.
Carol

@retiredteacher I wish you lived close by, there’s a great shoe store that not only has regular shoes but caters to people with foot problems. My sister went there when she had plantar fasciitis.
You might try the Walking Company too, I just bought some excellent sneakers there with orthotic insoles. I need great stability for my osteoporosis and impact absorption for my knees.
That’s too bad that you have no place for a bike. Could you get a small rug to put under it so it wouldn’t mark the floor? You are more important than your floors.
JK

@contentandwell I've ordered shoes and sent them back. I may stumble on something eventually that will work. I prefer the treadmill or walking tapes. That's the way I lost so much weight before diabetes. I'll eventually figure it out. I am particular about the way I dress and orthopedic shoes are not my look. So just like years ago when I wore spike heels, my shoes and clothes make a difference to me. I know that's vain but some people like a certain look that I wouldn't want and they wouldn't want to look like my choices. Shoes fall into that category. I look almost daily on the web; one of these days, I may find something I like and that works for my feet.
Carol

@retiredteacher I am similar, a bit on the vain side. I really miss my high heels. 2" is my limit now. My sister buys shoes that I would not wear but she likes them. Clarks has some good looking shoes now, even my daughter has some and they are very stylish. Dansko also has some nice ones, they are being embraced by the younger generation who have enough money to buy them.

The shoe store that I mentioned also carries SAS. Some of their shoes are downright ugly but some are OK. They are extremely comfortable too. There are some other brands that are supposed to be good that are also pricey. I forget the brand names, but I have tried many of them on and they have not been good for my foot.
JK

I forgot all about Willie! I'm glad for your determination!

I saw an article on one of Mayo's newsletters that comes by email. It's about overcoming obstacles to exercise. Here is the link,
https://diet.mayoclinic.org/diet/move/exercise-barriers-tips-to-overcome-them?xid=nl_nl_mayo_clinic_diet_2019-11-07_18547226&utm_source=Newsletters&nl_key=nl_mayo_clinic_diet&utm_content=2019-11-07&utm_campaign=The_Mayo_Clinic_Diet