sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now with family stuff and the the whole diabetes caravan on top. i would like to say to you that it gets easier, i would be lying of course, but what does get easier is only from my experience of course is to be able to recognise the downs and ups and do something about them.. I appreciate you may not have had diabetes very long and it is a hell of a shock, and one of the trickier challenges is working out whats in food. Sometimes you get it right, sometimes you dont, but thats life with diabetes Im afraid, at least you're trying to get it right which is jolly good, better than not caring at all. Your doctors and nurses are right, but there is perhaps a more subtle way of delivering that message I would say, hey ho - the medical profession dont always get it it right when they communicate with us as people living with this disease.
Writing all your levels and sugars down is I admit a bit of a pain, but I think there's a really cool app where it does it for you other than input the data of course, think its been developed by a german bloke and its called something original like mySugr app - have a look for it as it would mean it wasnt such a pain for you to keep track and even the slightest changes in your diet or regime will show which if you've got it right is v satisfying. What do you think? Try it for a week and see how you get on?