Two years into the pandemic have left many stress-reducing outlets -- from dining out to exercise classes to visiting friends -- upended. Diabetes care is no exception. Anxiety over the pandemic, worry about friends and family, and fear of contracting COVID-19 yourself can raise your blood glucose levels, blood pressure readings, and cortisol levels, which can mess with your metabolism. At the moment, save for getting the vaccine and masking indoors, there aren’t good solutions to these problems. But I do have a small suggestion for those struggling with frazzled nerves. Treat yourself. Kindly. Lovingly. Mindfully. What do I mean? If the word “treat” leads to downing sugary or carb-laden treats, I can’t say that’s your best choice. But if your blood readings are stable, maybe a small scoop of your favorite gelato or a single decadent biscotti might help. Not forever, but long enough for you to remember that as a person with a chronic disease, you are on a journey of mostly consistent care and that -- once in a while -- you deserve a small pick-me-up. But a boost doesn’t have to involve calories. Buying a fancy pen at the pharmacy, a $5 puzzle at the dollar store, or a new lipstick won’t break the bank, but may give you just enough of a lift to get through a crappy day. I learned this strategy from my late mother-in-law. A dedicated shopper, she often added cheap items to her supermarket or drug store runs: costume jewelry, a fancy notepad, or a lighted keychain. She kept her purchases wrapped in gift paper, stacked in the attic. And when one of my kids was having a meltdown or I was 900 months pregnant and nothing fit, down came one of her “finds.” Since she’s passed, the gifts have ceased. But last week, exhausted by COVID-19 and diabetes and the evening news, I considered what might make me feel better and I remembered her tradition. Masked and huddled in a down coat, I paced my neighborhood until I found something that fit the bill: a pair of red socks embroidered with miniature martinis. Stylish? Not so much. But when I look at them on my feet, they make me smile. And smiling is an excellent defense against stress. These days, people might call her gifts a form of “self-care.” Under that rubric, you could extend the notion to a bubble bath, a Zoom yoga class, or an afternoon with a mystery novel. You might consider extending the idea to friends and family, leaving homemade lentil soup at a doorstep, or shoveling a friend’s front walk when it snows. It may seem counterintuitive, but studies show that performing services for others is one of the fastest ways of feeling better about yourself. In the end, it doesn’t really matter what you choose – martini-emblazoned socks or a neighborly good deed. What counts is that whatever you choose helps to lift your spirits long enough to release your worries and -- even for a few moments -- let some anxiety-busting happiness in.