You share the frustration and fear that many people with diabetes have. I once heard one of our diabetes educators at the Joslin giving this analogy. When you miss an exit while driving on a highway, you should just get off the next exit. Don't stop the car in the middle of the highway and dwell on why you have missed the exit. Keep moving! Learn from the past and move forward. Same thing can be said about diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition that does not yet have a cure. Inevitably, the journey of living with diabetes is often full of ups and downs. Take comfort in the fact that having poor glucose levels for a short period of time will not lead to long-lasting complications. More importantly, reaching and maintaining a good glucose target for a prolonged period of time can protect your body from complications for years to come even when glucose levels wander beyond targets later on. Although we still don't understand how this metabolic memory works, let it be a motivating factor for you! Take control today! Answered by: William Hsu, M.D.