Photo taken from an Urgen Care Clinic in Fairbanks, Alaska (April 14, 2014)

In the days leading to my diagnosis of Diabetes, I experienced a thirst that could not compare to any thirst in my life; it was a thirst impossible to quench. The colder the drink the better, however, no matter how much water or Gatorade I drank, I felt like I was burning inside. This thirst caused my sleep to be interrupted as I was in the bathroom urinating every hour. This went on for days until the point of exhaustion.

On April 14, 2014, I fell asleep at a red light. With every step I took, I felt I was going to fall and, even though I am not one to go to the hospital or see doctors, on that day I left work early, called my wife, and told her that I needed to see a doctor. My wife, who is a doctor herself, told me to go to Urgent Care. 

The normal glucose number in the morning ranges from 100 to 126 and, after a meal, 140. My glucose numbers were close to 1000. I remember one of the doctors saying that was one of the highest numbers he has ever seen. On April 14, 2014, I was officially diagnosed as diabetic and given meds. 

My glucose numbers came down significantly with meds, but they were still high. However, I did not feel defeated. In the back of my mind, I told myself I could overcome this with exercise as being active has not been an issue for me. However, being active was a challenge in Alaska during the winter. In my order of health priorities, I had 1) exercise and 2) diet. As I was then diagnosed with Severe Apnea, I still insisted that if I exercised that would also take care of my sleep apnea. 

During the last 9 years, I have had a couple of victories, but, for the most part, I have been losing this battle. I did not understand my decease and oversimplified solutions in my head. In general, things were getting worse until one-night Erectile Dysfunction (ED) visited me. It seems like it came out of nowhere; it seems that it happened suddenly. Erectile Dysfunction is always a consequence of out-of-control diabetes and very concerning heart issues. Now my manhood was under attack and all the psychological garbage attached to it. The battle intensified!

At the root of the problem was a cultural diet issue that is designed to kill us and, an even deeper issue… my food addiction. Neither was seriously addressed by any doctor outside of my wife who addressed the nutritional aspect. But no matter what my wife or anybody said, deep down inside of me, I still believe that if I just exercise harder, I was going to be able to overcome this. 

Three years ago, we moved to Arizona, from Alaska. I saw it as my ultimate hope for my healing from diabetes. In Alaska it was too cold, I had seasons of inactivity because of the severe cold temperatures. But now in Arizona, I could play golf and enjoy the outdoors year-round. I had no excuse to overcome diabetes now… right?

A couple of years ago my wife introduced me to the Keto Diet. My glucose numbers improved and even normalized. I was truly doing well. But I was not focused and did not understand what I was doing. I was still stuck on exercise as a priority; the problem was that a good workout was a good excuse for cheating on my diet. I simply loved carbs too much! At this point, nobody was truly addressing the root of the matter, my food addiction. I did control my carbs intake more than before, but it was not enough. Little by little I fell off the wagon and, a two-week vacation to my homeland of Puerto Rico last summer provided me with the final blow as I ate like an uncontrolled animal.

My glucose numbers started climbing to the 400s. This time I felt defeated. After all, I was exercising, I was moving, but not getting the results I had hoped for. Now I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Again, I felt that premature death was knocking at my door. I felt depressed and frustrated to the point of tears. 

Desperate I did what many people do; I started looking online for answers. That’s when I ran into the Carnivore Diet. This is the ultimate elimination diet; they only eat meat and eggs with no vegetables whatsoever. I started on 12/28/2022 and a few weeks later, it turned into a Keto/Carnivore approach. My glucose numbers normalized three weeks into the diet. My average glucose number for the last couple of weeks has been 110. I even spent a week in Puerto Rico last week and was able to remain focused. I have lost 30 pounds and have not felt this great in years. There are some paradigm changes I have made as it relates to my health: 

1. My relationship with God and the study of His Word MUST be my number one priority; without it, my life will always be unbalanced.
2. Exercise is no longer my priority, sleep is. Sleep is the most important aspect of my health and wellness.
3. I must aggressively distress every day. I must get rid of any unnecessary stress in my life as the data clearly shows how extremely detrimental stress is to one’s health and wellness. 
4. After a healthy relationship with God, good quality sleep and distress nothing is more important than a healthy Diet. Protein and fat are my friends; carbs and processed foods are my enemies. 
5. I must see my food addiction and address it as such if I want to maintain a long-term lifestyle. 
6. An active lifestyle must continue to be a lifestyle. 
7. My health and wellness in my responsibility, not my wife’s or anybody else. The Bible tells me “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” Philippians 2:12 (NIV) The word salvation here is the word deliverance. I have a responsibility to work on my mess. In addition, I have a responsibility before God to present my spirit, soul, and body blameless before Him.^[1]
8. I must find a Tribe (A group of people who are on the same journey as I am; committed to presenting their spirits, souls, and bodies blameless before the Lord. A group of people who are committed to working out their deliverance… their issues.)

With these principles in mind, I have been able to find hope and the best results since being diagnosed with diabetes 9 years ago. Have I found the secret to good health and wellness in my life? Is this approach sustainable? Only time will tell.

^[1] “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Thessalonians 5:23 (NIV)