OK, so it’s not January 1st any more. Does that mean you should throw your hands in the air and not bother setting any goals this year? Of course not! Simply focusing yourself on one particular aspect of your diabetes can make a tremendous difference this year.

Several years ago, Bill O’hanlon wrote a book entitled Do One Thing Different: Ten Simple Ways to Change Your Life. I don’t pretend that this blog can change your life, but I like O’hanlon’s concept. The changes we need to make can easily overwhelm us if taken all at once. But when we decide to start with one thing, we all can do one thing different.

So for 2008, what will you do different? What are the simple steps (or just one step) that you can take to make a difference in the management of your diabetes?

I share some ideas here to get you thinking. I won’t try to prioritize them because each diabetic’s needs are unique. In fact, this is probably a great topic for you to discuss with your doctor at your next appointment.

Regular Doctor Visits
Speaking of your next doctor’s appointment, getting a regular check up is essential for any diabetic. Prevention is so vital for your long-term health. A doctor can watch for warning signs, can provide education, and can answer your questions. If seeing the doctor regularly is a struggle for you, this would be a great choice for the one thing you could do differently this year. If you don’t see a doctor because of financial reasons, contact your state health department and ask for information about financial assistance and insurance programs.

That One Food Weakness
For my son, it’s hot chocolate. He loves hot chocolate like no one I’ve ever seen. There are times that he’s in the mood for a good cup of regular, not-sugar-free hot chocolate. And sometimes, he decides he wants it so bad that he won’t test his blood sugar before or account for it in his meal plan. It is his weakness. Do you have a weakness? Something you’re willing to make an exception for that you know isn’t good for your health? One thing you could do differently this year is to use your food weakness only as a reward you give yourself when you’ve planned for it properly.

Regular Exercise
A few weeks ago, there was a news report about the benefits to diabetics of combining cardiovascular exercise with resistance or weight training. Perhaps, regular exercise is a challenge for you. Or perhaps your routine needs a kick-start. You could choose to do one thing different in your exercise routine. Start walking every morning. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Buy a pass to the local swimming pool and go regularly. Every bit of extra physical activity you add makes a difference.

Lose One Pound
Everyone knows how important it is to maintain a healthy weight. But if you’re caught in a cycle of weight gain, it’s easy to feel so helpless. Taking O’hanlon’s approach, don’t decide that you’re going to lose 10 pounds or 40 pounds or 60 pounds. That can be completely overwhelming. But could you lose one pound? Could you eat a little different this week? Or add an extra 15 minutes to your exercise routine? Start with one thing, one pound. Then once you have one success, try to build on it.

Know Where You Are
I’ll share with you my “one thing different.” We have this three-ring binder full of diabetes information we’ve collected over the years. It is also where we put my son’s A1C test results. But unfortunately we have developed the bad habit of just stuffing them inside the front cover. They easily get out of order and rarely have the date written on them. My goal for this year is to always write the date on the test results and place them in order behind a tab. This way, we’ll always know exactly what his last test was and we’ll know whether we need to be focused on lowering his A1C, maintaining, or avoiding too many lows. Could you be more organized with your information too? Could it help you stay focused on your care better?

I hope you take these suggestions and add to it. Perhaps even review with your doctor the one or two things you could do this year that would make the biggest difference. Let’s all have an exciting and healthy 2008. Happy New Year!