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Why this site exists

I’m Hardy. I have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and chronic kidney disease — all three.

A few years ago I found myself in a hospital with my body not working. Everything was failing. And I was realizing I had all three diseases at once. I knew nothing. I didn’t know what to do, where to start, or who to believe — and the information I found conflicted with itself everywhere I looked. It was, and sometimes still is, an overwhelming feeling.

Having some kind of anchor would have helped a lot. Something that would have taken the edge off the stress of those news. It got so bad I almost died twice and lost half my sight. I was supposed to be on dialysis.

I’m still living with it. Still struggling, some days more than others. My way of dealing with it right now is to share.

Grab the free printables

Newly diagnosed (or love someone who is)? Start with The First 30 Days After Your T2D Diagnosis (free PDF) — a calm 4-week plan with 5 printable tools. (The full post walks through it.)

Short on time? The Free Printables page has the low-sodium grocery guides and CKD meal planners as one-tap PDF downloads — no signup, no email. Print them, stick them on the fridge.

What you’ll find here

Everything I went looking for and couldn’t find in one place, written in plain language: what the numbers actually mean, what to cook, what’s dangerous versus just scary-sounding. I’m not a doctor — every post cites the real sources (CDC, NIH, ADA, KDIGO) so you can check the facts yourself, and you should always work with your care team. What I add is the translation into ordinary life: meals, mornings, and habits that survive real weeks.

If you’re new, read in this order

1. What Is Type 2 Diabetes? Plain Kitchen Language — the front door. Zero jargon.
2. A1C Chart by Age — decoding the blood test everyone hands you.
3. Blood Pressure Numbers Explained — the other number your doctor keeps repeating.
4. Warning Signs of Low Blood Sugar — the safety post. If you take glucose-lowering medication, read this one today.
5. Insulin Resistance Diet: What to Actually Eat — the “what do I eat tonight” answer.
6. Eating Order: Carbs Last — the easiest first habit. One change, this week.
7. After-Dinner Walks — the second habit, and why the timing matters more than the distance.
8. How to Test Blood Sugar at Home — where to poke, when to test, and what a good number actually looks like on your own meter.
9. Does Drinking Water Lower Blood Sugar? — what water does in the hour after a high reading, and what it can’t do.
10. Coffee and Blood Sugar — why the same cup behaves differently before and after food.

Browse by disease

• Diabetes — meals, medications, testing, the numbers
• Blood Pressure — home readings, sodium, calm routines
• Kidney Health — kidney-friendly food without the panic

One more thing

If you just got bad news recently: it’s overwhelming at the start for almost everyone, and it does get more manageable. Pick ONE thing from the list above — not all seven. That’s how I got through it, one anchor at a time.

Educational only — not medical advice. Always work with your care team.

Educational content only — not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always work with your care team.