Need Help and Support

[pamparred]

I have been off the forum for a while. Went totally off RAW and went back to SAD, for maybe the hundredth time. Last week I came down with what I thought was strep throat, turned out to be viral infection.

Anyway, went to the doctor and during the visit he mentioned my medical conditions. I have type II diabetes and high blood pressure and have not been taking my meds. He did the blood work and these are the results. I knew the blood sugars were high. Over three month period they averaged over 300. Normal is below 100. The protein level in my urine was 306. Normal is 30 which means I am losing a lot of protein in my urine. My blood pressure was 195/84. My total cholesterol was 228 with normal being below 200. Not to bad, but my triglycerides were 313 and should be below 150 this is from the high amount of sugar in my system. My HDL was 33, should be over 50 (the good stuff) and my LDL was 132 and should be under 100. For now he wants me back on my diabetes meds and high blood pressure meds.

I took all this stuff before, but found I had no life. I would hardly be able to get through the day. I was like a zombie. If I sat down for more than 2 minutes, I would doze off. I do a lot of beading and would literally fall asleep with needle and beads in hand.

When asked if they changed my meds to one of the newer ones for diabetes, would it be in addition to or instead of. He said they never take away, just add to. I asked if I would ever take a reduced amount or come off of them altogether and he said no, maybe a reduction but in all likelihood, no it would just get progressively worse (the diabetes). Although he was not against reducing meds if he thought it needed to be done, he didn't think it would be likely. Normal readings were only normal because of the meds. We won't discuss my thoughts on this. However, he is writing a referral to a diabetes clinic in Taos and he said the nurse practitioners there did alter medications and treatment, and the doctors let them, but he preferred to be informed (meaning he would fight it). We are going to check out the clinic and see if they would be willing to work with alternative means.

To be honest, the two things that worry me most is the protein in my urine (damage to kidneys) and damage to my pancreas. Not to mention that prolonged use of metformin can cause liver damage. I figure the blood pressure will go down with weight loss and exercise as will the blood sugars. Right now I am overwhelmed by all of this.

I know that Raw will help me overcome these issues. What I would like from all of you is suggestions, encouragement, anything. I have decided to delay taking the meds for two weeks and just doing RAW to see what happens with my blood pressure and blood sugars. If I see little or no improvement, then I will start taking the meds. If I see improvement, not expecting normal readings, then I will keep doing the RAW without the meds.

Has anyone else had these problems, did you use herbs and if so what worked for you? Sorry this post is so long, but I thought I would be thorough with my problem and questions. Thanks for all your help.

Pam

[Raspberry4]

I feel for you. How are you doing off of the blood sugar medicine? Do you monitor your glucose levels at home? Do you think you might be dozing off because of the high sugar in your blood (since you are not on any hypoglycemic agents)? I don't know if I am saying that right? Anyway...I cannot offer medical advice since I am not a medical person but it seems like if you are not taking your meds you would need to monitor yourself closely to avoid high glucose problems? Would you consider talking to your doctor about taking your meds and going raw and get monitored closely to the medication response and adjust accordingly? I know I am probably just babbling and not making much sense. I will hope the best for you. Let us know what you decide and how you are doing...Best of raw luck to you.

[Zaphirah]

I can't give you medical advice, as I know very little about Type 2. I just wanted to encourage you to listen to your intuition. I wish you the best of health!

[shashibala]

Perhaps you can get some info from the Tree Of Life Rejuvenation Center.(www.treeoflife.nu)
Gabriel Cousens has written a book about reversing diabetes and they hold
retreats there for diabetic people. If it isn't in your budget, maybe you could get the book and a phone consultation? Don't wait! Your kidneys are working overtime already! I wish I knew more. I wish you all the best!!!

[Theogirl]

Please don't give up on your health! Get food on your side, working for you!

[pamparred]

Thanks for your replies and good wishes. Yes, I monitor my blood sugar daily, first thing in the morning and occasionally before dinner. The falling asleep all the time is when I take the meds.

The doctor I went to is not into alternative medicine. His idea is drugs, drugs and more drugs. There is no other way. I am looking for another doctor that will work with me, but finding one that is on my insurance plan is the problem.

I will check into Gabriel Cousens retreat and book. The retreat may be out of my financial realm, but the book won't be.

I am not looking for medical advice, unless you are a professional, you can't give it, just ideas on natural alternatives or if you have experienced these issues, what you did about it.

Once again, thanks for all your help.

[StarFire]

Okay sweet Goddess... I am not a Dr or medical professional ... so ... I'm just going to speak to you from my heart okay?

First off.... I think you are amazing. Going thru all of this and still working towards and fighting for your health... You're not giving up ... and in my book... that's AWESOME...

now... the things you are dealing with are very serious and need to be considered carefully. (as you already know)...

Now LIVE FOODS WILL HELP you .... and you recognize that. Dr.'s mean well - but they aren't always right. Beppa was diagnosed with MS. The Dr's told her basically that was it for her life - she asked the Dr. if a change in diet would help her -- and the dr said... "NO. There is NOTHING you can do - MS is incurable and regardless of what you do for your diet -- that won't do any good or help you in anyway."

beppa looked at him and said... "Well, I refuse to accept that." and she walked out of his office. Soon after she discovered Alissa Cohen and the LIVING on LIVE foods... and she has COMPLETELY CURED HERSELF of MS.... no more symptoms... nothing.

I know there are several testimonies here on RFT where people have been cured of diabetes. The search engine here is a little difficult to use -- and it will bring up a zillion threads -- so to pick thru them all and find those testimonies is no easy task unfortunately... but there ARE people right here on RFT that have gotten off of high blood pressure medication and cured themselves of Diabetes thru the RAW foods. (I'll search around a bit and see what I can dig up...)

only you can decide if you want to go on your meds... or stay off the meds for 2 weeks or however long...

but regardless of your decision there... eating as High a percentage as you can of raw foods can only help you... (whether you are taking the meds or not)... and if you can go 100% RAW all the better. AND... if you can exercise (even if it's just walking everyday) that will help too.

the one thing that did catch my eye was the sugar you mentioned... so I would suggest -- no 'high sugar' fruits. I know I personally have very adverse reactions to high sugar fruits -- I get dizzy, and even fall asleep and become almost comatose -- and my husband will have a difficult time waking me up... and when he can wake me up -- I'm disoriented and fall right back to sleep...

I think you are very brave... and I applaud you in your efforts...
You see it doesn't matter if you are taking those meds or not... Raw foods can only help you... healing will begin to take place within your body -- slowly. As you nourish yourself with LIVING foods... you will be giving your body the nutrients it needs to begin making repairs and healing you from deep within...

changing your medication or need for it .. will change along with your healing... I've no doubt about that...

this is an amazing point in your life... You are walking thru a doorway which will change your destiny... You can chooose right now to fight for your health... and that's a wonderful and exciting thing!

Never give up pamparred... YOU are worth fighting for...

blessings on your journey ... and it's WONDERFUL to see you posting again... but remember... be patient with yourself... don't get discouraged... take it one day at a time... KNOW that healing IS taking place deep within you ...

RAW LIVING foods is a key that will unlock miracles within your body and mind... give it a chance pamparred... and give it time...

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/ththliloandstitchhug.gif

[StarFire]

Pamparred...

here's a link to VeganforLife's testimony

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=26306

She was cured from a thyroid problem that the dr said could never be healed. I realize it's not what you are facing --but it is a very interesting read ... and very encouraging...

I'll keep searching for something specifically geared to Diabetes...


keep your chin up!!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/dancing-6.gif

[StarFire]

here's a couple of more links...


The Boutenko family cured their son of type 1 diabetes. http://www.rawfamily.com/



If you haven't already you should check out the raw for 30 days movie trailer and also dr gabriel cousens' research on curing diabetes with a raw food diet. really really cool and exciting stuff.

You can see the movie its the first one called RAW FOR 30 DAYS -- here's the link....

http://www.purelyraw.com/videos.htm



Here is Dr. Fuhrman's article only about Type 1 diabetes. Very encouraging, and the results likely even better when take his vegan, high nutrient rich diet to a higher raw level...

http://www.drfuhrman.com/disease/Diabetes.aspx


I hope those links help !!

blessings on your journey....

RAWk on!!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/SmileyFaces.gif

[pamparred]

Thank you Starfire for all your help and encouragement.:) I have come to realize that the only one who can change things for me is me. I will check out all the links you posted. I knew about the Boutenkos' and had seen the you tube video. I even checked out Gabriel Cousens 21 day program, but it is beyond my monetary powers. Thanks for the tip about sweet fruits. Have decided that for the present I will focus mainly on veggies and non sweet fruits like cukes, tomatoes, etc. I will be posting my journey weekly on my blog just to let others know and perhaps I can help someone else along the way. You always bring a smile to my face and a song in my heart. Thanks! :D

[carolg]

Hi Pam,
Finally found the link.

I know you can do it. I see Star's and everyone's fabulous encouraging posts on theirs or others successes. i am believing you will be added too, but you are already a success by starting NOW. You can do it. I'm here to cheer you on. I get to hear your voice too. What an honor. Now when you come visit we can hit all the goodie places to shop for food and clothing. All we will have against us is time. Get healthier, take care of the dog, let hubby do his thing for his body as he sees best in that department and remember only you can choose greater health for you.

Also www.hacres.com a while back they wrote about diabetes as a subject in detail. May track that down in your free time as you are snowed in up in the mountains. Look at archives there. It's not totally about raw since most don't want that, but the testimonies for many diseases RAWK.

I'm here for you. You got my number, support here, so I'll just call it "no excuses." We all care! You are going to have a dynamic testimony helping masses. You can do it!

love,
carolg

[iluvmangos]

pamparred,

I have type 2 diabetes and I find that exercise really helps with blood sugar control. I've been walking 4 miles a day lately and am trying to work up to 5, but even when I was doing one or two miles, my blood sugar control really improved. That was before I went raw, too. My blood sugar is still fine after eating raw for a week.

Also, if I have a smoothie, I find that green smoothies are better on my blood sugar than just fruit smoothies.

I decided to discontinue my Metformin, but I'm not telling YOU to. I totally don't believe your doctor, though, that you will never be able to go off your meds. Maybe you can't right now, but I don't believe that you would never be able to with exercise and dietary changes. I think you'll prove him wrong if you stay on track.

[lioness]

Don't give up. My mother has diabetes as well and she got so bad that she was going in and out of the hospital every 2 weeks, she even flatlined twice and was talking like she was going to die, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and I TOLD her she was going to see a naturopathic doctor because conventional doctors don't know everything. As soon as she got out the last time I took her, they did some diagnostic test on her like hair analysis, and other things I can't think of right now. Well several times we went and they worked on her gave her some supplements and she hasn't been back to the hospital since. It's been like 2-3 months now. She still does dialysis, but I said all that to say this. You can make it. Don't be discouraged, you can be healed and don't let the doctors discourage you and tell you there's no cure and the only thing they can do is keep giving more medication. Believe in yourself and your own intuition, and your Spirit will guide you through and don't let fear rule you. It is true, there's nothing to fear but fear itself. And also to quote my favorite line from "Dune" You must not fear, fear is the mindkiller. A lot of times our fear makes us do things that we wouldn't normally do under a normal circumstance. Like when my mother was talking about not being here and us carrying on without her, that was the first time I heard her talk like that in my life, but I told her I didn't accept that, I knew that she could overcome so I encouraged her and gave her my strength so to speak and I took her to the naturopath and everything turned out fine, now that she sees for herself she has got her fight back and she is doing so much better. Keep your fight. You'll make it.

[pamparred]

Thank you all so much. You don't know how much your encouragement means to me. I am grateful to all of you for your support.

Carol, we seriously need to get together to do some shopping. And the snow here has finally melted. Yeah, I can see green grass coming up in my yard.

iluvmangos, I have been very lax in my exercise program, but I have dragged out my rebounder and I ordered a dvd from Alissa on stretches. Also I have started walking. Just need to work harder at it.

I feel I need to concentrate on veggies and the fruits like cukes, tomatoes, etc. and stay away from the sweet fruits until I can get my numbers to start dropping. And I decided to not do the meds. Will use natural alternatives and raw and exercise to get this under control. I think the nurse practitioner at the clinic will work with me. Will be checking with her next week.

lioness, I am happy to hear that your mother has got her fight back and is winning the battle. Sometimes we just get overwhelmed with everything that they throw at us and we want to give up. Oh, "I will not fear, fear is the mind killer," is my favorite line from Dune also. Had forgotten it, thanks for reminding me.

Love to all of you, Pam :D

[Aleesha Sattva]

i can only speak for my Self here but:

a year ago my blood pressure was high
blood sugars high, diagnosed with type II diabetes
cholesterol high
liver - the equivalent to an alcoholic who's been drinking heavy for 50 years (i don't drink)

went raw in august.

liver functioning better than optimal.
blood pressure low 120/65 - 102/65 (i meditate a lot)
cholesterol low
no longer considered a diabetic by my doctor!!!!

my hubby just completed a 20 day green smoothie feast. he's never had his blood sugar numbers within the recommended range. his numbers are low! perfect in fact. :D from 20 days of green smoothies.

his blood pressure is now 127/78 (was high)

never say never!!!

[PammieTaj]

Beyond the health issues that you have, what are the issues that prevent you from being raw and staying raw? Everyone here has had to find their own way on this. I think everyone has some level of addiction to cooked foods. And some of us use food inappropriately (other than to fuel our bodies). Ultimately it comes down to the question of why that something that you are putting in your mouth is more important than your life.

I deal with that everyday myself. It's a choice to stay raw. Better health is a choice. Losing weight is a choice. I saw this suggestions somewhere here, and I think I'll repeat it. Make a list of all the reasons you want to be raw. Handwrite that out on 3 x 5 cards (or 5x7 if you need the room!). Say those reasons out loud as you write them. Make as many cards as you need, to put in as many places as you need to, to remind yourself of why you choose raw. Put one on the dash of the car, in your purse, on the fridge, on the bathroom mirror, at your desk, etc. Typing and printing is not the same.

Personally, I'm taking it one day and sometimes one hour at a time. I've just started again myself. I've ruled restaurants and social eating out of my life for now. That's typically where I fall down. My goals have to be more important to me right now, as hard as that may be.

Take good care of yourself and the rest will follow.

blessings and peace, Pammie

[chilove]

Hello Pam,

I didn't have the same health conditions that your body is giving you a wake up call with, but I did have several other chronic conditions that I healed from via the raw vegan diet including debilitating fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, IBS, obesity, depression and anxiety. Your body CAN heal. All of our bodies are always wanting to heal. We just have to provide them with the proper conditions to do so.

Please stick with raw. You won't regret it! You CAN do it!!! If I can do it, ANYONE can! :-)

Many raw blessings,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[carolg]

Pam,
I am ready for serious food shopping with you, but this tiime you are my excuse. I constantly go food shopping. I should have a job in the produce department of one that will take me. No kidding. Today I am pretty much bare on fresh produce and probably won't hit store either. It may be a fresh cabbage salad for sure. Had my share of pumpkin seeds and a few soaked almonds that I found in the freezer. I can't wait to get to the gym, but wish I could run. Monday appt. with chiro to check on my pull so can't run.

Maybe it's time to get out with the dog since snow is going away and push yourself to go further each day at an increased pace. Maybe time for a rebounder I think we talked about: Needak with bars on side to help you balance.

I'm believing all your fans here want to see you well. We wish we can do it for you, but sadly only YOU can do it for YOU, YOU, YOU! Get the camera ready as we want to see pictures!! Tell Walt you made a decision that your "enlarged" family is going to be your encouragement/support system and unless she receives a special invitation he can't offer any suggestions during this period.

You can do it PAM! When are you coming?

carolg

[pamparred]

Aleesha-- Thanks for sharing your great health reports for you and your hubby. I have been toying with the idea of just doing green smoothies. I don't want to say for how long as I feel I would just sabotage myself by making promises I can't keep. Then I would start the whole, "I am a miserable failure" routine and we all know that song and dance.

PammieTaj-- I understand how you feel about it being a daily, sometimes hourly struggle and sometimes its a minute by minute struggle. I have been thinking about this a lot and have come to some conclusions. I find excuses to eat SAD and there are far too many to list. I also have an equally long list of reasons to fail at RAW. I have experienced first hand what it can do for me. I know I prefer it to cooked ---- nothing cooked tastes good or as good as I remember it tasting, but still I set myself up to fail. I always make it so hard on myself that there is no way I could succeed with the way I plan it out. Kinda like planning to run 20K race and haven't even walked around the block for years but just sure I can get in shape in oh say 5 days. I always have an alternate plan that includes contingencies for when I fail. I am a master at self destruction. I think I allow fear to rule me. If I don't succeed at one thing then there are no expectations for me to succeed at more things. Does that make sense? I like your idea of the note cards, and I agree, writing not typing. Thank you for your input.

Chilove-- You along with all the others have given me hope and seeing your before and after pictures is inspirational. I can see the pain in your before, but you glow in your after. I have seen that so often in peoples before and after pics. With everyone's good thoughts and wishes to hold onto, I know I will succeed.

Carolg-- I have a rebounder and have started using it. When I come up for a visit, it won't be just grocery shopping we will be doing. If all goes well, I am hoping for the end of this month.

I want to thank all of you again for all your support. It means so much to me, more than you will ever know.

Went shopping today and stocked up on lots of greens and veggies. Sunday I will do green smoothies and take it from there. Don't know how long it will eventually be, but am taking it one day or perhaps I should say, one smoothie at a time. Thank you all so very, very much!
Pam

[StarFire]

Pamparred... can you please email me thru my profile?

thank you!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/a3b44903.jpg

[carolg]

Pam,
End of the month will be fine. Maybe we will be planting my garden then together. Is Walt going for training?

So I wonder what else you have up your sleeve we will do besides food shopping? Did you want to try my gym out--24 hour fitness? They may have them in your neck of the woods too. I love it there.

Off to bed.

carolg

[MrsJohnnyG]

I am new to an all-raw lifestyle but you've gotten some great advice here... but, I strongly recommend that you do some Google searching on cinnamon as a natural alternative to Metformin.

My RE (endocrinologist) wanted to put me on Metformin, but I resisted because of the harmful side effects.

Through research, I learned that cinnamon, amazingly enough, has the same effect as Metformin on insulin levels (obviously without the side effects).

I've been throwing a liberal amount of cinnamon into at least one smoothie a day, and I started feeling better even before going "all raw"... I have no doubt it's helping with the insulin situation and will confirm that when I get retested.

Not to mention it tastes great in smoothies! :D It sounds crazy but I would look into it further if I were you!

[carolg]

Yes, cinnamon is great. MrsJohnnyG thanks for bringing this back to rememberance. I don't have this challenge, but surely can't hurt to include it in a smoothie with apple and lemon. Wow.

Dental receptionist shared about cinnamon benefits for her diabetes too. She can't give up her tacos and all the fixins that go with it plus her junk diet.

I shared with Pam many alternatives for her challenges. I believe cinnamon was included.

Everyone, feel great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

carolg

[pamparred]

MrsJohnnyG Thanks for the info about cinnamon. I use it a lot, in smoothies, I add it to my cashew butter and I drink a cinnamon tea. I have been doing some research and found that cucumbers are excellent for diabetes, adding it to smoothies and a really good food to add is bitter melon or gourd. These can be found in oriental markets. The recipes I found call for adding a 5 inch piece, seeds too, to smoothies. Also, swiss chard and beets are good. Here are three recipes I found using these ingredients. They are specifically for Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.

Bitter Melon Sunshine Smoothie

2 c distilled water
1/2 bitter melon (approx 5") with seeds
1 yellow beet, peeled
1 small carrot
3 large leaves Swiss chard with stems
1 lemon, peeled, leave fuzz (pith) on and seeds
1/2 large cuke
1" fresh ginger root
pinch of green stevia (not white)

Bitter Melon Crimson Blast

2 c distilled water
1/2 bitter melon (approx 5") with seeds
1/2 peeled red beet
3 large leaves red Swiss chard
1 lime, peeled, leave fuzz (pith) on and seeds
1" fresh ginger root
pinch of green stevia (not white)

Swiss Chard & Cucumber Supreme

2 !/2 c distilled water
4 large leaves Swiss chard
1/2 yellow beet, peeled
1 cuke with skin
1 lime leave on white fuzz and seeds
1 ear corn, cut from cob
1" slice ginger root
3 tsp flax seed
pinch green stevia (not white)

If you want more info on these or article, email me off list and I will send you the info. I don't want to break any rules on the forum. Just contact me at pamparr@hughes.net

Thank you for your suggestions.

[pamparred]

Carolg, no, Walt isn't going for training. If I can make it, I will be coming on my own. Can't wait!

Pam

[carolg]

Pam,

The best time to come up/down is for you to come whenever but stay for our rawluck June 1. It will be packed at this one as we are whenever we do it at her house. It's a don't miss. You will be shocked. Your bed is waiting. My dog will eat you up. My husband will enjoy your company. It will be a blast of a time with you here. My frozen personality son and his dorky wife who has NO personality won't be coming around as they hardly do, but today I think made it feel more permanent. They both have poor communication skills and today proved it even more.

I can't wait either till I see ya! Sat. we hit the Farmer's Market with about 10-15,000 and close by too.

Actually you are still up and I'm thinking of calling you but wondering how late is late? Bring your gloves as the garden needs help--the PAM touch!

carolg

[pamparred]

Things are going great. I started the day with one of the smoothies I posted earlier. Don't have the bitter melon, but will be making a trip to Albuquerque later this week to purchase some. Since going back on raw, I have released 4 of the pounds that found me again and my blood sugar has dropped 31 points. Definitely doing the happy dance here.:D Thank you everyone for your kind words, advice and heartfelt wishes. I will succeed!
Pam

[carolg]

Pam girlfriend,

That is a great beginning!!!!!!!!!! Keep it up!!! You'll feel less pain when playing in my garden when you come here. You may be able to even run after my dog or take her for a nice walk around our long block in a country setting.

carolg

[pamparred]

Carol, will enjoy working in the garden and walking the dog. :) As of this morning, my blood sugar is 190, down from an all time high two weeks ago of 355. I am feeling much better and know that this will continue. I am doing one smoothie in the morning, but am moving up to one for lunch also. I want to gradually work up to three or more a day and do a GS feast for a while. I would like to say a month, but will wait and see. I don't want to make promises I can't keep to myself. But I am definitely moving in that direction. Have a great day everyone!