Lifestyle Designed To Help Normalise Blood Sugar Levels

02/01/2014

I have type diabetes injecting insulin 4 times per day – Novorapid 32/34/32 units before meals and Lantus Solar Star 76 units at night.

I was overweight – 72 kilos; my height just under 5ft – bloated from insulin and medicated for high blood pressure (which was escalating), cholesterol (level approx 3.8 – have arthero sclerosis lower legs).

My medical history is: gastroenteritis as a baby (1938) – last resort to save my life was doses of castor oil; allergic to chloroform when I had my tonsils removed – operation was stopped before completion; had hives eating egg white (albumin) as a child; endured hay-fever for many of my earlier years; allergic to any drugs containing sulphur; reacted badly to Mortein fly spray – stood in shower to breath, throat bleeding. Reacted to cholera and typhoid immunisation prior to overseas trip – in bed for a week to recover.

Immune system break down in 1998 when I had Giant Cell Arteritis for six years – treated with Prednisone and Immuran which I reacted to (I was very swollen and walked like Noddy on sponge rubber – my eyesight wasn’t affected but my arms were so weak I couldn’t drive the car for a year or peg clothes on the line or lift a half-filled kettle without difficulty. A few years after I was off these medications I had key-hole surgery for gall bladder removal – instead of one day in hospital I was in for four days with hallucinations, high blood pressure because of the Prednisone and diagesics I was prescribed.

The next problem I experienced was giant hives all over my stomach, in my throat and swollen lips – I was prescribed a hyperactive child’s diet for six months. The taking of Prednisone and Immuran was the beginning onset of type 2 diabetes.

During the program Juicing fruits and vegetables taken three times a day for two weeks improved my health – I enjoyed this! I lost 4 kilos at first and the level of insulin injections lowered by two thirds (under my doctor’s guidance) to 14/14/14 approx. This varied a little when I was ill with a virus. I was having regular blood and urine analyses.

I have now lost 6 kilos and reached a plateau because the first urine analysis showed loss of protein. For about 4 weeks after this I had two juice meals and one unprocessed meal which included small amounts of protein such as boiled chicken, a dessertspoon of low fat cottage cheese or Greek yoghurt. The next urine test showed the protein problem was gone. (My husband died of renal failure – he was on dialysis four times per day – he showed loss of protein too so bearing this in mind I had to be careful.) Another problem arose with my white cell count in my blood analysis results. I researched my present medications – Lipitor (cholesterol) and Aldactone and Atacand (high blood pressure) – this research showed that high intake of potassium foods (banana, avocado, pears and citrus) suggested the reason for white cell count issue. So I have had to modify my intake of unprocessed juice and foods which has left me on a plateau at the moment. I recently had reductions in Lipitor (40mg to 20mg) Aldactone (25mg x 3 to 25mg x 2) and no more Atacand. I am about to start juicing once more being mindful of how much potassium enriched fruits/vegetables I use. My health has generally improved nonetheless – I am just a bit slower at getting the results I would like to achieve.

My daughter Catherine, who suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia, has been juicing for 15 days and is now using some of the meal recipes. She also has had a reduction in Oxycontin, Prednisone and other pain relief medications. The bloating has been reduced by half and she feels much better. She has undergone 26 corrective surgeries since she was 4yrs old – now 46yrs and is partially wheelchair bound.

I like to spread the word far and wide. My friends at my gym class two days per week have noticed the difference in my fitness level and ask many questions. My diabetic counsellor and diabetic dietician are interested as well and like updates on my progress.

I thank you very much for running this change of lifestyle program.

Laurice Hyam.