Andrea - glad you like the Patriot. I was shocked when you told me earlier this year you did not have one. Isn't that root ball of the "grown in full sun" hosta amazing? It was a second Patriot for me that I got 3 years ago because it had an eye that was almost white. I called it Casper and tried to make it survive by pinching back the two green eyes hoping to force it go all white. Well the white eye died earlier this year but the two green eyes that refused to give up came back just fine. Funny - the metal sign that read Casper and a package of ghost peeps were supposed to make it into the box. Apparently I left them on the kitchen counter! lol

I have to second the arnica--it actually works. If you use any of those "camphor" things, apply it with gloves or your hands will tingle! I'm a light-weight when it comes to taking anything so I can get away with using calming tea as a beverage and it relaxes my muscles. I like Sweet Dreams by...oh, I think Bigelow. I prefer it to SleepyTime and I also like the one from Trader Joes. I like epsom salt baths too. I also use, even though it is expensive, a bath salt called Bath Therapy. It contains lythium crystals!!! Oh, no aches after that kind of soak. Oh, and two things I learned working for Chiropractors for so many years: 1. Drink more water than usual as it helps keep the muscles from tightening up. 2. Take your calcium and magnesium. They help keep muscles relaxed. Feel better!!! J.

I don't fell like I got too much out of seeing a diabetic educator. It was a cookie cutter approach because it was a class. The number of carbs that I was told were okay was way too much for me. I don't recall if it was on this board or elsewhere, but the best advice I have seen was to do some experimenting first - using your glucose monitor to see how you react to different foods. Then, armed with that information and your list of foods that you are willing to eat, you can see a dietician who will help you to plan meals around those limitations. Dr. Oz on Oprah, when asked a question about mercury in salmon said "Don't sweat the small stuff, the first order of business is to lose weight." I think that for diabetics the prime directive is getting our weight down and our blood sugar under control. If that means eating more fats than are optimal for me, then so be it for now.

hi sheila, yes i am having leg cramping also. last night i had such bad pain in my right foot and it moved up to my thigh, it was pretty hard to sleep. i tried putting a pillow under my foot to keep it elevated and it helped some but not much. made me feel like i have a blood clot or something. today it feels a little better. no doctor has really confirmed i am in perimenopause, but my gyno seems to think i am. this is really a scary time for me and i know it must be for you as well. i pray we get thru this time. i will be thinking of you and i hope you feel better soon. take care shirley