All Hope Lost Because You've Got Diabetes?

It is easy to fall victim to type 2 diabetes.

It's easy to think this won't happen to you. After all, you're a leader and probably the eternal optimist. By 2030, it is estimated there will be 5.5 million people with type 2 diabetes in the UK alone.

But that's not the big problem. The condition known as "insulin resistance" is a condition that is a prelude to becoming a diabetic. It is a "hidden cause" that the individual can have for as long as 13 years before he/she is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Research shows that 13.8 million people are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes AND 850,000 people have type 2 diabetes and they don't know it yet.

When someone is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it is a very bitter pill to swallow. For some, it's like a death sentence due to the numerous health complications associated with this chronic disease.

It doesn't have to be that way. Both my parents developed this terrible condition. It felt like this common disease stole their happiness and hope let alone their health.

One of my greatest life heroes has been my Mum. She was very slim and full of energy when she got married. It was an arranged marriage as per the culture she was born into. I was the oldest of 6 children and Mum was in her teens when she had me. In some ways, she and I grew up together.?

She used to be carefree, happy-go-lucky and always with a smile. However, the responsibility of raising 7 children (Dad was the 7th child lol) for so many years took a toll on her health. By her forties, she started experiencing high blood pressure, allergies to numerous “normal” foods, asthma and, of course, the dreaded type 2 diabetes. The point of this post.?

My dad had the same issues and then some. These two people who I personally witnessed survive a brutal civil war, then constant racism, abject poverty…yet still kept their heads up high and stayed strong for their kids…were now losing hope. Life was not so sweet.?

They’d given up hope of good health, settled for a life of misery and worsening personal health crises. In truth, they felt like victims of chronic diseases, especially type 2 diabetes.?

I wasn’t having this. Neither was my brother. We’d already lost our maternal grandmother to cancer when she was the same age as the age I am today. It broke me.?We’ve been guiding them and advising them the lifestyle and mindset changes they needed to get back their life. It took nearly a year and WOW the results have been truly remarkable.

They say you can’t teach old dogs new tricks. My dad is not a dog BUT he is stubborn. Nonetheless, given that he is over 80 now, he took heed particularly with the exercises, breathing techniques, supplements and meal plans. It was a bit more difficult for my mum. She has massive food cravings, especially for sweet foods.?

YET, she has totally transformed her health. Here are some of the changes they’ve experienced:

• Mum has reversed here type 2 diabetes and she’s medication-free
• They take herbs and supplements to support their very different physiological needs
• Dad has his diabetes in brilliant control
• They do yoga daily
• They practice special breathing exercises to keep pain at bay
• They meditate and pray daily
• Their eating habits are totally different and they love it
• Mum’s allergy levels have decreased

The most important news is that the changes they’ve made is that my father out-walks everybody in his neighbourhood. Forget the older folks. They both do so much more leisurely activities, spend lots of time with their grandkids, and have got a new, better version of their life back.

Lesson learnt??

You can choose to enjoy the amazing freedoms that life offers - health, relationships and fulfilment. NEVER lose faith.? Never Lose Hope.