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November is National Diabetes Month

Last spring, I took a drive across town to talk with my doctor(a wonderful DO named Claudia Wendell) about my health. I had begun to feel "icky" on an almost daily basis; chronic headaches, afternoon tiredness, shakiness and cold sweats ~ I could go on and on. I did not feel that these were related to my hypothyroidism, and having an older sister with Type 1 diabetes, I was confident my blood glucose levels were spiking and dropping.

After a couple of four hour blood tests it was confirmed that I was on my way to Type 2 diabetes. But all was not lost ~ I knew the Lord was giving me a blessed opportunity and I decided to stick to Him like glue day by day as I worked to "reverse" my pre-diabetic state. And guess what? In late July Dr. Wendell informed me that I am not a pre-diabetic and if I continue to make wise choices regarding my health and specifically what I eat, I will never become a diabetic. No surprise at all, God delivered when I fully gave my health and my heart to Him.

Dr. Wendell has called me her "poster child" and has told me that many of her patients aren't even willing to check their blood glucose levels on a regular basis, let alone make any concrete changes. That amazes me! As I sat in her office hearing her tell me that I would be a diabetic within a year if not sooner, I knew I had the option to yield to the Lord and seek His help, or to drive on as if nothing at all were wrong. But I also knew that if I chose the later, I would be forfeiting His grace in this area. I would be choosing to behave like Jonah, running away instead of trusting God even when it was downright scary. Jonah wrote these words: "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." (Jonah 2:8)

I'm no poster child; I'm a child of God who has chosen not to forfeit the grace He has for me. I chose to follow hard after Him and leave all those worthless idols lying in the dust behind me. Trust me when I tell you that I am not a woman with amazing self-control. This is all thanks to the Lord - losing 40 pounds, reversing my pre-diabetic state, not touching sweets for months (even on our vacation to Florida I ate healthy or not at all). Every single aspect of this is from the Lord's hand, and since November is a National Diabetes Month as well as the month to pause and give thanks to the Lord, I would like to say how thankful I am to the Lord God Almighty for delivering me from a diabetic future and bringing me into a good and plentiful land of good health.

For every day that I don't endure headaches and dropping blood sugar, I am thankful. For every time I say, "No, thanks" when offered delicious desserts, I am thankful. For the promise of my vision not being lost to diabetes, I am thankful. I have my health restored, hope for a better future than I could have dreamed of, and more energy to enjoy my life than I've had in years. God is good and worthy to be praised.

If you would like information on Type 2 diabetes, and specifically how to prevent it, feel free to contact me. And if you'd like more information on how to grow in your trust in the Lord who has delivered me from Type 2 diabetes, open your Bible and soak in His Word. He is no respecter of persons; if He will deliver me from my problems, He will also deliver you from yours!

Day 55 done :)

Giving thanks as I raise diabetes awareness,
Jan L. Burt
www.homeschoolingmothersbiblestudy.com

Comments

  1. While it is NO surprise to me that you stuck to God like glue, turned your entire health over to Him, and He answered your prayers and blessed your faithfulness ten-fold....I am beyond super super proud of you!! You have also been such an inspiration to me in my walk with "being healthier"! It has been so neat to watch you and Miriam both be blessed beyond measure for your obediance and for your dedication to becoming healthier and beating the odds of becoming diabetic!! So -- let me say "WELL DONE Good and Faithful Servant" -- you are such a blessing to not only me and my family -- but to many many others as well!! We are SO very thankful for each of you Burt's!! :)

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