Category: Blog Posts

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Defeating Diabetes: Real Choices or Hype?

Diabetes Book CoversIs it really possible to defeat diabetes (especially Type 2)?  If so, how?

There are many books and blogs that tell us that Type 2 diabetes results primarily from life style choices.  Many go on to say, “Eat right and exercise”.  Great advice!  But exactly how do I do that?

A quick search will result dozens of different proposed ways to “Eat right”.  Many claim that the science is on their side.  Here is just a few of the more well know programs:

What are we mere humans to make of all this?  The amount of information can be overwhelming.  It can also make it easy to find new excuses to not take action.

At times, I have longed for a quick and easy fix to the problem.  I did not care if it was medicine, herbs, or powders as long as it was quick and easy.

Dr. X says, “Eat mostly meat.”  Dr. Y says, “Do not eat any meat.” They are both standing on well-established science and clinical experience.  Yet they draw such vastly different conclusions.

Some scientific claims are misleading.  Some science is truly junk science—not really science at all.  To make things even more complicated, different groups or individuals have overt or hidden agendas.

In the Defeating Diabetes blog and podcast, we will explore these topics.  But more importantly, we will work together to find solutions.  It may not be a quick and easy process.  Together we can accomplish great things.  I am convinced that there are solutions!  (See the blog post “Defeating Diabetes: The Journey Begins” to read more of my story).

Each books mentioned above, have value.  I recommend that you start with Dr. Joel Furhamn’s book The End of Diabetes: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Diabetes*.  It can help get you started in the right direction.

Question for discussion:  What are some of the craziest, most outlandish, fad diets you or a friend have tried?

*This is my Amazon affiliate link.  Using this link will help support RestoredLifeNow.com.

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Defeating Diabetes: My Journey Begins (Part 1 of 2)

Signs Man with _m2Welcome!  Thank you for joining me on this journey towards better health.  So far, it has been exciting and it keeps getting better and better.

For years I have been dealing with diabetes.  More precisely, diabetes has been dealing with me.  When diabetes showed up, it brought some of its friends: high cholesterol, high triglycerides (fats in the blood), and high blood pressure.

Most of my doctors told me that my diabetes could not be reversed.  The best I could hope for, they would say, is to slow it down.  Their main solution was medication on top of medication, with ever increasing doses.

Even with treatment, I quickly started to develop serious complications.  My feet started to hurt.  Parts of my feet were losing feeling while at the same time they would burn deep within.  This is called neuropathy (nerve damage).  I developed additional vision problems.  The eye doctor informed me that I had “atypical” cataracts.

But wait…there’s more…  For no additional charge, diabetes and its friend threw in a heart attack!  The medical community’s response—more medication!  At this point I had a total of 14 different prescription medications.  (Note: I am grateful for the medications during the heart attack–they may have saved my life.)

All this and I was barely 44 years old.  Only 5 years had passed since my diagnoses.

It started back in 2008.  I was serving as a Chaplain in Iraq for the US Army.  Something damaged my lungs and I was medevac’d from Iraq.  Whatever it was, caused a rare and difficult lung problem—Constrictive Bronchiolitis Obliterans.  At the same time I developed diabetes.

I always met the Army weight/height and physical fitness standards. Until that time, I lived an active life.  That is not to say I was in top shape.  I had a little extra weight where I did not want it.  Yet, I meet the standards.

The lung damage significantly limited my ability to be physically active.  Even moderate activity became increasingly difficult.  I was also plagued with frequent and serious lung infections.  I coughed so much and so hard that I literally busted my gut (hernia).

The story does not end here.  The best is yet to come!  More in part 2 of The Journey

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Is there a quick and easy way to defeat diabetes?

Churchill_BloodToilTearsSweat ShortMany try to sell us powders, pills, or hidden secrets that promise a quick and easy solution to diabetes.  Please do not be fooled.

It angers me when people offer false hope.  Often the only “quick and easy” involved is hucksters acquiring our money.

But take heart, just because there may not be a quick and easy way does not mean that there is no way.  We can gain victory over diabetes.

The road may be difficult.  It will take time and effort.  But it is something that is within our grasp.  There are simple, but not easy, steps we can take to regain control over this devastating condition.

Each of us is unique.  Yet we share a lot in common.  As a result, each of our paths will look a little different.  At the same time our journeys will share a lot in common.  Together we can be stronger and perhaps even a little wiser.

No quick and easy solutions here!  All I can offer, in the words of Winston Churchill during a difficult time in modern history, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat…You ask, what is the aim?…victory, however long and hard the road may be;”

If you want to join me on this journey sign up for the Restoration Nation Update and subscribe to the blog/podcast.  You do not have to go it alone!

David

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One Million People Free and Victorious!

2013-11-14-peopleinworldwdThis is my goal and the goal of RestoredLifeNow.com: To help 1,000,000 people defeat diabetes!  That sounds like a lot of people.  Well, it is.  This can be accomplished if we band together.  I cannot make this happen by myself.  Together we can transform a million lives for the better.

The problem is huge!

In the United States nearly half of all adults 20 and older are either a pre-diabetic or diabetic.[1]   That is over 115 million adults.  Only about 10% of the 86+ million US adults with pre-diabetes know they have it.  Pre-diabetes is not pre-dangerous.  Pre-diabetics can suffer the same complications as diabetes. This problem is not limited to the U.S.  It is truly a worldwide epidemic.

In 2012 the World Health Organization reported 347 million diabetics.[2]  A 2013 report from the International Diabetes Foundation estimates that there 382 million people around the world with diabetes.  That does not include the pre-diabetics.

Most, 90-95% of diabetes is Type 2—the kind produced largely from lifestyle choices.[3]  The good news is that healthy choices will benefit both Type 1 and 2.   Type 2 diabetics can, in most cases, obtain complete victory over this devastating disease.  May doctors believe that Type1 one diabetics can eliminate the complications and greatly reduce their need for insulin.

It will take a lot of work to help one million people transform th
eir lives.  Together we can do it!

What can you do to help transforms a million lives?

  • Make healthy changes in our own lives. Even if you do not have the common risk factors.  Your lives (life style) can encourage, instruct and inspire others.
  • Encourage our friends, neighbors, loved ones and coworkers to go for screening. Especially if they are even a little over weight, carrying a little too much in the midsection or have a family history of diabetic problems.
  • Learn all we can for ourselves. The more we know the more we can guide people toward solutions.
  • Let them know that there is hope and help!!!!
  • Share all the free resources available on the web. There are many blogs, podcasts, sites and videos that can help people beyond our own capacity and knowledge.

This is why I am developing these free resources.  This blog, podcast, and community exist to help you and your loved ones defeat diabetes.  Let’s build this community together and defeat diabetes one life at a time.

Be sure to sing up for our newsletter, “Restoration Nation”, to stay informed and connected.  Oh, and don’t forget to share our podcast and website.

[1] http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/14/prediabetes-rising-diabetes-threatening-usa/15134489/

[2] http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs312/en/

[3] http://www.joslin.org/info/genetics_and_diabetes.html

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Does the lack of sleep affect blood sugar?

ManSleepingAtDesk iosphere FDPWe know that sleep is important for our brain recovery.  But does sleep directly impact our bodies’ ability to control our blood sugar?

A study of type 2 diabetics found that those reporting poor sleep duration and quality were linked to poor blood sugar control[i].  Similar results were observed in healthy individuals limited to 4 hours of sleep for 6 days.[ii]

Some of the impacts from the lack of sleep:

  • Decrease lepton (a hormone important in appetite suppression)
  • Increased ghrelin (a hormone involved in stimulating our appetite)
  • Possible increase in cortisol (stress hormone)
  • Reduction in glucose tolerance
  • Reduction in insulin sensitivity

What a combination!  From my own experience, the hunger that is created results in looking for sweet, salty and/or fatty foods—not vegetables.

When we are tired we look for quick energy.  The carbs we seek provide a quick short-term boost.  Simple carbs not only provide energy but they trigger a dopamine (the feel good brain chemical) response.  Both of these boost are short lived.  If they did not come with all the nutrients we need then we quickly seek out another boost.

These tired eating binges not only spike our blood sugar, but they also add to our waist line.  This further complicates the insulin resistance problem diabetic’s face.

On top of this add the decreased glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.  All this combined is not good for healthy people, much less diabetics.

In a recent podcast episode of “Healing the Wounds of War” I discuss 10 Tips for Better Sleep.  The information is also applicable to those dealing with diabetes.

Here are some additional web resources (besides the journals listed below)

Illustration courtesy of Iosphere on freedigitalphoto.net

[i] Knutson, K, JAMA Internal Medicine “Role of Sleep Duration and Quality in Risk and Severity of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus” September, 2006 http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=410883

[ii] Spiegel, K, The Lancet, “Impact of sleep debt on metabolic and endocrine function”, October 1999 http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(99)01376-8/fulltext

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You do not have to go through it alone!

The Valley of the Shadow of Death 1867 George Inness with Words 700Psalm 23:4 (NLT)

Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.

No matter how dark things may seem.  No matter how alone we may field.  We are not alone.  Even in the darkest valley, also known as the “valley of the shadow of death”, we can find comfort in the knowledge that God is with us.

This Psalm does not promise that God will pluck us out of the valley of the shadow of death.  In this Psalm, David, a great warrior and king, proclaims that he is confident that God will protect and comfort him as he travels through this valley.  And that God will provide everything he need (Psalm 23:5).

We do not have to let fear paralyze us.  God will guide us through these difficulties.  It is our responsibility to trust, listen and follow.

This time or situation in your life may be like a dark valley.  Take courage that others, such as King David in this Psalm, made it through dark times by trusting in God.  Many others share similar experiences.

You do not have to go through dark times alone!

Comments:

If you have an encouraging story (testimony) please share it in the comments/reply section.  It does us good to hear good news!

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Flags Placed to Represent Veteran Suicides

IAVA 1892 flagsAn estimated 22 U.S. Veterans committee suicide each day.  That means about 1,892 veterans have died this year due to suicide.

A 27 March the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) will place a spot light on this problem. Volunteers will place 1,892 flags on the National Mall in to honor these fallen.

We at HealingTheWoundsOfWar.com and the Hope and Restoration Team (HART) are grateful for the IAVA efforts to combat suicide.  Go to StormTheHill.org to learn more.  Let’s put an end to suicide!

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Does it matter if they (providers) really care about your recovery?

Does it matter of our doctors, nurses, therapist, clergy (or anyone involved in our healing process) really care?  Or is it all dependent on pills and checklists?

Many things are involved in the recovery of PTSD.  One aspect that we may not think about too often is the relationship between the provider of care—those involved in the healing process—and the one receiving the care.  Empathy and trust have been found to be important parts of care and recovery.  We are impacted by the empathy we perceive from those supposed to help us recover. 

Questions we may ask about a provider (consciously or otherwise):

  • Do they really care about my recovery?
  • Do they believe that I can recover?
  • Can I really trust them to keep all this stuff confidential?
  • Will they loss respect for me if they find out what I am really thinking and feeling?

Ronald Murphy, PhD in a symposium on PTSD notes:  “And a lot of therapists, and a lot of research shows that the best predictors of treatment—no matter what cognitive behavioral intervention you did—the best predictor was the degree of expressed empathy by the therapist and how much the patient felt understood by the therapist when you measure those things, very important. I think we underestimate the power of therapeutic alliance.”* 

Ted Kaptchuk, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard, observes that how physicians “frame perceptions” can affect the outcome.  A study done with people diagnosed with intestinal problems reveals this idea.  Even while receiving fake (placebo) care some patients actually go better—not just felt better—when the care was accompanied by empathetic interactions.**

If we are not making the progress that we would like in our recovery it may be helpful to consider the relationship and connection we have with those involved in our recovery.  There is nothing wrong with acknowledging that a care relationship is not working.

What do you think?  Does knowing/feeling a therapist (or other providers) really cares impact recovery?

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* http://harvardmagazine.com/2013/01/the-placebo-phenomenon

** http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/videos/transcripts/sat_change_2.pdf (National Center for PTSD, Readiness to Change in PTSD Treatment Part 2, Written Video Transcript pg 3) http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/materials/videos/change-ptsd-treatment.asp (Part 2 Video Time 9:50-10:11)

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Ash Wednesday and Lent… What is the big deal?

Cross AshA Special post for; (a) those that follow Christ; (b) interested in Christian spirituality; (c) anyone curious about Christian history, teaching and tradition.

Many Christians all over the world are entering a season of the Church year called Lent.  In short, it is a time to remember our frailty and God’s gifts, goodness and offer for a new life in Christ.  It is a time of reflection and taking inventory of our life and actions.  This is not for the point of beating up on our selves, or others.  Rather it is on opportunity to let go of the past and things that weigh us down.

For those of us dealing with painful experiences and memories it is an opportunity to experience the power and freedom found in the act of repentance and offering and receiving forgiveness.  So Lent can also be a time of healing, even healing the wounds of war.

The following is a quote from the late Robert Webber on the practice of Lent.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps 51:10 KJV).

Ash Wednesday is the service and Lent is the season for repentance from phony Christianity, pretend spirituality, and words without works Christian living. The Holy Spirit uses the Lenten focus as a tool to open our hearts which have grown calloused through selfishness and pride. Throughout the busy year, we become spiritually dull and unapologetically self-absorbed. Our attitudes and actions are insensitive to others’ needs and disobedient to God’s call to life and holiness.

Ash Wednesday stops us in our tracks and reminds us that we are but dust and to dust we shall return. Dust can’t demand, dust can’t argue, dust can’t exalt itself, and dust can’t boast. Dust needs God to have life and only in God can these “jars of clay” minister life (Gen. 2:7, Job 42:6, Eccles. 3:20, Ezekiel 37:4, 2 Cor. 4:7). Ash Wednesday reminds us that we are nothing but dust, muck, and mire without the crucified and risen Jesus.

“We too easily forget our Maker and Redeemer; replacing God with things and ambition. Lent is the season that does something about this situation. It calls us back to God, back to the basics, back to the spiritual realities of life. It calls us to put to death the sin and the indifference we have in our hearts toward God and our fellow persons.

And it beckons us to enter once again into the joy of the Lord–the joy of a new life born out of a death to the old life. That is what Ash Wednesday is all about–the fundamental change of life required of those who would die with Jesus and be raised to a new life in him.”

Robert Webber, Ancient-Future Time: Forming Spirituality through the Christian Year (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2004), pg 99.

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Beyond the limits! Jason’s story…

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Doctors, professional books, and even those close to us will sometimes unintentionally place a limit on our potential.  They may be well intended.  Sometimes they are correct.   There are things that we may need to accept.

But …  That is not for others to determine on their own!  Consider Jason’s story.  The VA was willing to sustain him in an institution.  When he decided to go home with his parents their books determined that he was as recovered as he could be and cut off the rehab resources.

Jason, however, was still progressing.  So his family continues to pay for rehab services out of pocket.  The VA was willing to spend huge amounts on institutionalizing him but not to pay a much less amount for continued rehab services.

We understand that some people stop progressing in their rehabilitation and there needs to be checks and balances.  But a formula should not be the determining factor.  We are all unique and have unique situations.

Are you facing a physical injury, Post-Traumatic Stress, relationship issues, work problems or you are being told that it cannot be done?  Don’t accept that on face value.  Don’t blindly rely on the formula.

Be wise and listen to the counsel of others.  There are some limits we may have to accept; but not without a fight.  Not without first thinking outside the box!

Watch Jason’s story as captured by the Wounded Warrior Project