In a nutshell?

>LOL...talk about a swift kick in the you-know-what and probably the first smile that's crossed my face in a while.<

You're certainly welcome-- sometimes my swift kicks are not... appreciated. LOL And if what I wrote gave you a smile, well... my work here is done. Heh

>I do want info...but the layman's kind. I still don't know what to eat.<

Diabetes for Dummies IS the layman's kind! Umm, well... if what you're concerned about is what to eat, most newly diagnosed folks start with a consult with a nutritionist. Some of them are really good at what they do, some of them will hand you a standardized ADA diet sheet and tell you to go forth and have a good life, and then there's everyone in between. Do ask your doctor for a referral to a nutritionist (if you have insurance, they will probably pay for it, but do check to see how often-- I know, as an insulin-dependent diabetic, I'm allowed to see my nutritionist as many times as I want, as long as I don't mind forking over that 20 buck co-pay every time, but non-insulin- dependent diabetics might have different coverage), and do ask for someone who's also a CDE, which stands for certified diabetes educator. Then at least you'll see a nutritionist who actually knows something about diabetes.

You probably know a lot more about what to eat than you realize. IMO, about 80% of it is using common sense-- it's not rocket science. No junk food-- even a five year old knows what junk food is and what it isn't. Be very suspicious of fast food, and avoid it if you can. No liquid sugar drinks. No high fructose corn syrup (check labels). No refined sugar, as much as you're able to cut it out. No supersized any damned thing, unless it's Diet Coke or something sugar/calorie free. Be very suspicious of sauces, breadings, coatings, salad dressings, and condiments, until you know what's in 'em. In restaurants, keep in mind that each meal they serve is actually big enough for three people-- not two, but three. Get reacquainted with fruits and veggies. Summer is a good time for this. Eat at least 3 small fruits a day, and veggies are practically a free food, except for corn, white potatoes, limas, peas and beets. Eat salad and lots of it, a couple of times a day if you like it. Eat three meals a day and two snacks if you want them. Aim for around 1500 calories a day until you see your nutritionist. Pay 8 bucks for a little book called Calorie King, which lists all common foods and restaurant foods, portion sizes, along with calorie, carb and fat counts for each. It's a place to start. I *think* their info is on line, too. www.calorieking. com

>And I want support, too, so I'm gonna check into a support group like you suggested.<

Some support groups are good, and I've heard some are a waste of time. But if you do your best to go with an open mind, willing to do a little give and take to the people you find there, you might actually find a new friend or two you can commiserate with.

>Been in animal rescue forever (hence the name "fluffmama") , so the volunteer stuff is covered.<

Good for you! Our four-legged pals need us to look out for them.

>And I took a bike ride today! Lubed up the bike that's been gathering dust for some 20 years, pumped up the tires and hit the road. Sure it was only a block or 2 but it's 105 degrees in the shade here in the desert and I can't go out when it's cooler cuz that's when the tarantulas come out (another story for a different group, so I have to start slow.<

I live in the freezing cold sub-Arctic of New Hampshire, where all we have to worry about outside is getting Lyme Disease from deer ticks and Eastern Equine Encelphalitis and West Nile Virus from mosquito bites... no tarantulas could survive here. But it's a wild kingdom out there, no matter where you live. Good for you, braving the bike in the heat. A journey of a 1000 miles starts with one... block...

>Most forms of exercise bother my back, but I think biking is gonna be ok. So you've seen me at my worst. I hope in a couple months I can write and share my success story with others.<

I hope we don't have to wait two months to hear from you again. Please do let us know how you're doing along the road.