Ellis - The Way of Wisdom for Diabetes: Cope with Stress, Move More, Lose Weight and Keep Hope Alive

Disclaimer: The information in this book should not replace consultations with qualified health care professionals to meet your individual medical needs.

Copyright 2012 Kenneth R. Ellis, M.S.

Revised March, 2016

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 1478262303

ISBN 13: 9781478262305

Thank you...

To Debbie, my wife now of more than forty years, for helping and supporting me all those years with my management of diabetes!

To my parents, Sidney and Maxine, for helping me to accept responsibility for my health with diabetes, beginning in the first grade and for all the encouragement you gave!

THE WAY OF

WISDOM FOR DIABETES

KENNETH R. ELLIS, M.S.

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Contents

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Introduction

The Way of Wisdom for Diabetes Self-Management

Would you like to hear words that build your confidence, words that are positive and uplifting, words that are motivational, words that give you a greater sense of hope for better health and well-being? I believe we would all like to hear words like that, wouldnt we? Then read this: Wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off (Proverbs 24:13).

Read the following words and see if they also give you a greater sense of hope and confidence: Accept what I say. Then you will live for many years.Listen closely to my words.They are life to those who find them and health to ones whole body.For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you.Having respect for the LORD leads to a longer life (Proverbs 4:10, 20, 22, 9:1112, 10:27 NIrV). If youve read those words in the book of Proverbs before, did they grab your attention, alerting you to the fact that they can directly be applied to handling diabetes or any chronic disease? Its a rare commentary on Proverbs that relates these words to your physical wellness. Well, there is much more helpful information to learn for health and wellness, and it is called wisdom! Wisdom is skill for living. A good person gives life to others; the wise person teaches others how to live (Proverbs 11:30 NCV). Those who get wisdom love their own lives; those who cherish understanding will soon prosper (Proverbs 19:8).

We all are susceptible to falling into the trap of thinking we know more than we actually do. None of us wants to be like the person who had diabetes for twenty years, but had stopped learning after the first year. Sure, that person may have accumulated twenty years of hard knocks experience, but the experience will be more difficult, with diabetes complications, if learning and applying is not continually done! Blood glucose monitors, the glycemic index, feel full on fewer calories strategies, and A1c tests were management techniques unheard of several years ago. Newer, more accurate information is available today! That is why we need to keep learning! I like the following humorous saying; it shows a vivid picture of what happens when we become closed-minded and stop learning:

Knowledge is better than feelings. Ever tried just going by your feelings to determine where your blood sugar really is? Ive been caught off guard at times, thinking I have a low blood sugar level, when in reality its high. You can feel hunger pangs when you are high as well as when you are low. To see how accurate your feelings are, estimate what your number will be before you even check your blood sugar. I lived for twenty years with diabetes before glucose meters were even available. During those years it would have been nice to check the feelings of hunger or weakness with a glucose meter. Some people, however, who have had diabetes a number of years can experience low blood sugar unawareness. That is another reason why it is important to check blood sugar levels, instead of guessing.

There is always more to learn. Did you know that some people, who are newly diagnosed and are at the beginning stages of Type 2 diabetes dont have to be on medications to increase the level of insulin to experience low blood sugar? A newly diagnosed person came to me experiencing low blood sugar. How could this even happen without being on any medications? Did you know that one of the first symptoms of Type 2 diabetes is to lose phase one of insulin release? A certain messenger (a hormone, GLP-1) comes from the small intestine to the pancreas, signaling for insulin to be released, because the person has eaten some carbohydrates. There is no insulin to release, so in phase two, production starts. As a result, in trying to catch up with the needs to metabolize the food, more insulin may be produced than is needed, resulting in a low blood sugar a few hours later. So we need to keep learningit is our responsibility to do so! The way of a foolish person seems right to him. But a wise person listens to advice (Proverbs 12:15 NIrV).

Several years ago a photographer from a well-known national magazine was assigned to cover the fires at Yellowstone National Park. The magazine wanted to show some of the heroic work of the firefighters as they battled the blaze.

When the photographer arrived, he realized the smoke was so thick that it would seriously impede or make it impossible for him to photograph anything from the ground. He requested permission to rent a plane and take photos from the air. His request was approved, and arrangements were made. He was told to report to a nearby airport, where a plane would be waiting for him.

He arrived at the airport and saw a plane warming up near the gate. He jumped in with his bag and shouted, Lets go! The pilot swung the little plane into the wind, and within minutes they were in the air.

The photographer said, Fly over the park and make two or three low passes, so I can take some pictures.

Why? asked the pilot.

Because I am a photographer, he responded, and photographers take photographs. The pilot was silent for a moment. Finally he stammered, You mean youre not the flight instructor?

When it comes to your diabetes, who is the pilot? Ultimately it has to be the person with the diabetes. We do, however, need good information by which to pilot our decisions; and ultimately we have to implement what we learn. As soon as we accept that responsibility, realizing that the greatest ability we have is the ability to respond (responsibility), well be set free to outsmart diabetes. Jack Paar said, Looking back, my life seems like one long obstacle race, with me as the chief obstacle. D. L. Moody wrote, I have had more trouble with

In accepting personal responsibility, the factor that is usually not included for navigating safely over, around, and through diabetes obstacles is the way of wisdom. In this book, I want to introduce, for your use, Gods powerful provisions through his wisdom. I guide you in the way of wisdom. I lead you along straight paths. When you walk, nothing will slow you down. When you run, you wont trip and fall. Hold on to my teaching. Dont let it go. Guard it well. It is your life