I struggle and emerge or Luctor et Emergo is the credo underneath the Coat of arms of the Netherlands. Yes, it has been about a year ago since I last wrote a blog, due to several circumstances.
No, it was not only struggling. Just too many things were going on.
However, it must be said that I am indeed struggling with Diabetes type II. Diabetes has a nickname: assassin. When one gets this diagnosis the doctor will prescribe medicine to stabilize your blood sugar levels as much as possible. That, of course, sounds nice but it is far from the truth. First of all the medicine are a serious threat to your kidneys and liver. Also, the heart might be in danger. If you live long enough chances are high that you will develop Alzheimer's. It all does not sound very exciting right? While using the medicine the disease goes on. Every doctor will tell you that it is irreversible so basically the diagnosis is already a death sentence. As is the case with an assassin, you never know when it will strike.
Diabetes is hard on its way to becoming death cause number 1. According to the American Diabetes Association, in America, almost 10% of the people age 18 and above are already diagnosed with Diabetes and that percentage is increasing fast. In 2017 it has cost the taxpayers already 327 billion US dollars. Now let that sink in.
A few years ago I got a herniated back or slipped disc. Many of you will know how painful that can be. After a few weeks, there was still no improvement. On the contrary; it became even worse up to the point I could hardly walk. One morning I went outside to see if my neighbor was home. I placed my right foot on the first step and the moment I raised my left foot I fell down 3 steps. Another neighbor was so kind as to help me on both feet again and I was glad that I had not broken a single bone. Somehow I caught myself in the right way so there were only some minor scratches. What concerned me, however, was the fact that I had lost power in my right leg. Because of the pain, I already could not fully stretch and thus not sleep in a bed. I was doomed to sleep in a chair. Not very comfortable, that I can assure you. I went to the hospital. The routine tests were done: blood, urine, blood pressure, and heartbeat rating. With some pain relievers, I was sent away. Those pain relievers did not help much and I decided to go to the best hospital in town. The doctor there seemed more concerned about my swollen feet. I thought it was because I never really slept in the proper, usual way but I was told I had an infection. Again, I went home with a prescription for other medicine.
The following week I noticed some minor improvements every day. Still, we decided to see a neurologist. She advised an MRI scan. Seeing the cost I was in shock. I told her that I had suffered from a double herniated back before and got over it with good pain relievers. She reluctantly agreed and gave me a folder with some exercises. Unfortunately, the pain relievers again were doing nothing and I could not do the exercises because I could not lay down fully stretched. By the end of the week, we learned of two documentaries about reversing Diabetes. My partner and I watched and could not believe our eyes and ears. People who had suffered from Diabetes (Both types I and II) for many years became non-diabetic in only a few weeks! Simply by changing lifestyle and ...food. Did I say simply? Actually, it is not really that simple. We learned that the new diet is vegan. That means no more meat and eggs and no more dairy products. But seeing people who use u to eleven sorts of medicine daily who were now able to throw all the medicine out was very convincing. My partner (who was told he too was pre-diabetic) and I decided we were going to give it a try.
It was not meant to be. Yet. The next morning we tried to find out how to cook tasty vegan meals. I mean, cutting out meat, eggs, and dairy products are one thing but we would not think of nibbling carrots, broccoli, etc. Then the pain started to become worse again and now I could not even sleep in the chair anymore. Every position was painful. That Monday morning I called my partner (it was a holiday) and I was really crying from pain and exhaustion. I told him I wanted to go back to the hospital to be admitted.
Finally, it happened! Now the doctor and nurses observed me daily and I was pretty sure they would change my medication. How wrong I was. The doctor insisted I would have the MRI scan because she had seen something very disturbing on an X-ray that has already taken. She looked me deep in the eye and said "In the lower back it looks like a termite house! It might be a tumor in your prostate!" Of course, nobody likes to hear this kind of news but frankly, it did not knock me off my feet. Sure, I got concerned and I agreed in having the MRI scan to be made. I again mentioned that I still could not stretch out completely. The next morning, as expected, turned out to be a disaster. The doctor was called and it seemed that she now blamed me for not being cooperative. Well, I made it very clear that I had told her over and over again I could not lay down flat on my back. She then decided to send a 'pain' specialist to me. This man understood me right away and ordered the nurses to give me a shot every 4 hours. That night I slept like a baby! Excited as could be I was brought to the MRI scan which was already beeping me a friendly good morning. It took half an hour and I heard woodpeckers, drilling machines, coffee grinders, hammers and more kind of noises. And of course, my hip started aching like crazy during the process but I kept strong.
A few hours later the pain doctor came (I could hug him!) to evaluate the new medicine. I told him I wanted to go home but was not sure I could still use his miracle medicine. He assured me to write a prescription for tablets. And so it happened that a friend came that afternoon to pick me up. The neurologist obviously disagreed because I had to sign a waiver. It was Thursday and I had planned to see her coming Saturday for a reading of the MRI results.
This morning a friend was willing to go to the hospital to get my new medicine and when he came back he was carrying a huge envelope. In it were all the pictures of the MRI and a letter for the neurologist. Nowhere in the text I saw the words tumor or maligne! Not really surprising for as far as I know prostrate tumors are always discovered when people have problems relieving themselves or they find blood in the urine. Both were/are not the case for me.
By now you must wonder what this all has to do with Diabetes. Frankly, nothing at all! Except that we had all the time to see another documentary that convinced us even more. I cannot really blame the doctors since they are told and taught by the Pharmaceutical industry how to treat their patients. That same industries are making billions of dollars. No wonder they don't like us to change the way we eat to live a healthier life!
For now I think I have said enough. I started eating vegetables and fruits only, avoiding as much as possible sugar and processed foods. The next coming weeks I will have my blood checked regularly and I promise to keep you posted. There is a lot more to it and I am still doing research on the net. IT is time consuming but hey...I am a pensionado so I have got all the time in the world!
Love the ones You're with and be loved in return.
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