In May 2002 I was diagnosed with diabetes and was
absolutely devastated. I had been feeling unwell for a few weeks,
(raging thirst, tiredness, urinating a lot, fussy eyesight, weight loss)
not realizing that I was suffering all the classic signs of
diabetes. I had been to the opticians for an eye test but the
optician did not pick up on the fact that I had the symptoms of diabetes,
despite the fact that I had explained that there had been a sudden change
in my eyesight. Fortunately my wife had read an article on diabetes and
immediately realized that this was what I had.
I knew that I did not have diabetes twelve months
previously, as I had been given a thorough medical at work. They had
checked my blood sugar readings and everything was OK.
Since meeting my wife, I have, on the whole, eaten a very
healthy diet. My undoing came when I changed jobs. I was working away from home a lot and tended to eat
junk food; in fact I was living off chips, beans, and bourbon biscuits. No,
I know, it wasn't a very healthy way to live. My wife nagged me every
week about my diet, but of course being a man, I knew better.
On the weekend that my wife read the article, I took a
blood sugar reading on a relatives blood testing kit. My relative
thought that the testing kit must be faulty as the blood sugar reading was
33. For those of you reading this who aren't diabetics, the correct blood
reading should be between 4 and 7. My wife booked me an
immediate appointment with the doctors.
My wife came to the appointment with me, to give me moral
support, as I was feeling at an all time low. I had just watched a
programme on TV, about all the horrors of being a diabetic. I had
visions of my kidneys failing and my legs being chopped off. My
doctors first reaction when I told him that I thought I was diabetic, was
to say "You won't be diabetic on your diet" (I am a vegan and
the doctor knew that I ate a very healthy diet) My wife very kindly
chipped in "Ah, on our diet he probably wouldn't be, but he has been
eating junk for the last twelve months, while working away" My
wife proceeded to tell the doctor what my diet had consisted of and also
what a pillock I had been. (Kick a man when he is down why don't you!)
The diabetic nurse was summoned and I was officially
confirmed as having diabetes.
At this point I should tell you that not only am I vegan
(I eat no animal products of any kind: no meat, no fish, no dairy), I am
also opposed to vivisection. I had got myself into this terrible
mess and I did not see why an animal should be tortured in a laboratory
while they produced a drug to get me out of the mess. I decided
right at the start that I was going to use homoeopathy, herbalism and diet
correction to put my body back on an even, healthy keel. Fortunately
my wife has always been interested in alternative treatments and the use
of diet to ensure continuing good health. My wife did all the
research for me and planned my attack against diabetes. By the way I
am nearly sixty years old. Click on 'Plan of Attack' below to see
how I set about controlling my diabetes. To see the foods that you
should avoid completely, click on MAKE
YOURSELF ILL. One thing I must stress again and again, NEVER
INCLUDE ANY SUGAR IN YOUR DIET (included with sugar are Fructose, Sucrose, Lactose,
Glucose, Glycerin/glycerol, Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Blackstrap Molasses,
Golden Syrup, All the different types of brown sugar).
