by Nancy J. McCrary
My
name is Nancy J. McCrary. Diabetes came into my life in 1982, the year I was
diagnosed as a “borderline diabetic.” After he gave me the news,
my doctor warned me that unless I started eating right and exercising, I would
become a “real” diabetic.
I didn’t listen. I was in denial. I continued in my usual habits, and I gained a lot of weight. So, as predicted, in 1985, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
I still didn’t listen. I was given the same warnings as other patients; I knew the consequences; but I did not follow my diet and exercise plan.
The doctor placed me on the oral medication Glynase twice a day, but my health kept going downhill, and I was switched to Glucophage twice a day.
I don’t know why I ignored my diabetes. It’s nothing to play around with once you have been diagnosed. Please learn from me and take the advice of your doctor; get it under control. Follow your diabetic diet and daily exercise routine.
I “handled” my diabetes by staying in denial, believing everything would be okay, and throwing myself into my work. When I was employed, I worked 12 to 18 hours a day, five days a week, and of course this also contributed to my health issues, like the heart problems I started having in 1992.
But I kept at my self-destructive lifestyle of fast foods, excessive work schedule, and no exercise. I was a true couch potato—then my diabetes really took a toll on my body.
I started having sight problems; the doctors diagnosed macular edema, and the beginnings of diabetic retinopathy. I felt numbness and tingling in my legs and feet; I tried to ignore them—but my health just kept getting worse.
Then, in September 2004, my heart condition began to worsen. In November, 2004, I had a heart attack that I almost did not recover from. It is only by the grace of God I am alive today. He gave me another chance to do better.
I’d almost gone blind. I’d had a lot of sleepless nights, leg pain, numbness, tingling, and many episodes of heart problems. Finally, I got serious about my diabetes. My body is a temple of God, and I decided to live as long as He would allow—not to cut life short by ignoring my diabetes.
I’m doing a lot better now. I exercise daily, and I follow a vegetarian diet of fruits, nuts, vegetables, and grains, with a low number of carbohydrates. I’ve been taking insulin four times a day, but now, as I eat better, lose weight, and regularly exercise, I’m getting to reduce the volume of my insulin.
I’ve come down from a hemoglobin A1c of 13.9 to one of 6.2, and from
a weight of 309 pounds to 250. I have three stents in my heart, a pacemaker
(due to congestive heart failure), pulmonary hypertension, aortic stenosis,
arthritis, sleep apnea, acid reflux, diabetic neuropathy, and I need bilateral
knee surgery. After going through all these medical complications, I can testify
how good it is possible to feel, and how much of a normal lifestyle you can
live, when you are taking care of yourself. You could say I am living testimony.
Due to ill health, I retired from a nursing career in 2004, after working for
32 years. Although I am on disability, I remain an active person. I do a great
deal of missionary work throughout my church and community, trying to help others
as often as possible. I love telling others how the Lord saved me, and how He
gave my life new meaning.
I had the pleasure of meeting a very inspirational lady named Lois Williams [president of our Diabetes Action Network]. She is very supportive, and continues to uplift my spirit. It is a long and tough road to regain your health and get your life back on track, especially when you have to do it alone. It takes faith, a lot of faith in God, and you need to surround yourself with family and good friends who will strengthen your spirit.
To all of you reading this article, I say please, please, DON’T LET DIABETES RULE YOUR LIFE! If you let it get out of control, it will take control—and you may spend the rest of your life trying to stay free of pain, sleepless nights, and the burden of diabetic complications. You won’t enjoy your life. Don’t wait until you are diagnosed with diabetes; take control NOW, by eating right and exercising daily. Diabetes won’t kill you; you will kill yourself if you don’t fight against this and other diseases by doing the right thing to retain or improve your health and stay alive.
To my family, friends, and all who read this article, I say: “Live life to the fullest, and may God bless you.”