Remember when shopping for food was quick and easy? Wander around the grocery store and if it looked good throw it in the cart? And then sit on the couch and binge?

Yeah, me too.

Then we moved to Costa Rica and we wandered around the store wondering WHAT the hell it was and what it tasted like and how to prepare it. Then the Costco-like store opened and the Gringo brand names started showing up. It helped, but it still wasn’t fun.

When we moved back to the U.S. ALL those goodies were staring us right in the face. At the time, we did our best not to gorge on all the bad stuff. Since one of us is pre-diabetic, it was even more important.

Now that both our numbers are moving in the wrong direction, we decided that we would attempt to eat better.

Good ole Medicare came through by paying for us both to take a class in Diabetic Education.

9 hours over three days. it was worth it. I had no idea how many organs can be adversely affected by glucose being out of whack. And how HARD it is to control blood sugar.

In a nutshell, medication, diet and exercise works. Diet and exercise (D & E) can reduce your blood sugar level as well as medication. And with D & E there are no adverse side effects.

Your pancreas, liver, and kidneys all get involved in digesting food.

Diabetic Education and technology is has changed a lot the past few years. We’re encouraged to pay attention to carbs, but not get anal about it. 30 mg carbs per meal, 15 carbs per snack. No more than 3 hours between eating. Sticking your finger has gotten easier, and less painful – some gadgets don’t even require a stick – just a swipe of the device on your arm with a reader. But there is so much more. If you’re diabetic – or close – and on Medicare, ask your doc to prescribe a class. You might be surprised on what you don’t know.

Our first trip to the grocery took us two hours – reading labels! We put stuff in the cart only to take it out. Miserable. The class teacher reassured us that it gets better. She said we’ll get to know the good stuff from the bad.

Here’s the bright spot. Hard liquor is carb free.

Attention Medicare: Hard liquor is carb free. Should be reimbursable.