Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Beth Cockrell on February 17, 2009 at 9:28am

Well...I guess I'll start the discussion by telling y'all what I'm thankful for!
I've just recently passed my nine year anniversary with diabetes. It's silly, but after all that time I think I'm still in denial. So I am thankful that the Lord has kept me safely through these nine rough years and I'm thankful that He'll give me the strength to continue.
Looking forward to hearing from y'all...

Permalink Reply by Gordon Paul Jones on February 17, 2009 at 12:46pm

I've had many many things for which to thank GOD over my 52 diabetic years. The greatest of these has been other people who have shown their concern for me in my condition. First of all, my wife, Judi, has brought me back from in view of the pearly gates innumerable times. I've lost track of how many nights I've awakened with her syrup-covered finger in my mouth (we had no insurance and couldn't afford glucagon).

One of the funniest times, I had taken one of my deacons, also a diabetic, to visit another member of our church in the hospital. On the way home (I was driving) I lost it. No I didn't crash. In fact I dropped my diabetic deacon off at his home (He thought I was acting a little funny) and then managed to drive a few more blocks and miraculously parked my car in front of a tavern. When I didn't come home at the expected time, Judi called the deacon. He and his wife came and picked up Judi to help her search for me. After searching unsuccessfully for some time, she called the church's prayer chain. It's always best to keep the prayer requests short and to the point, so all she said was, "Pastor is missing." Later we learned that this was the first time that the chain had made it all the way around. ;-)

Finally, they called the police who passed it on to fire and rescue. Once a description of me and my car was in the system, the rescue team found me just a half block from one of their stations. They got me to open the door and into the back of an ambulance where they quickly determined my BG was 28 and started me on a sweet IV. By the time they got me to the emergency ward, I was sitting up begging them not to take me in. (remember, I didn't have any insurance.)

Through the whole ordeal, many people learned of the Lord's protection from all of us involved.

After 52 years, I should write a book of hypoglycemic adventures. Maybe I'll call it something like
"wha Happened?"

Permalink Reply by Barbie on February 24, 2009 at 8:02am

Bethany,
God disciplines those whom He loves (Dt, 8:5;Pr.3:12, and especially Heb. 12:10,11). Think of all the "pain" the diagnosis of diabetes can give. But the positive side is: GOD LOVES THOSE WHO ARE HIS. And His way to show His love is through discipline. Through discipline, we then share in His HOLINESS. So the affliction of diabetes is a training session from the Lord which will yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness. We can't receive it any other way then the way God chooses for us. Barb

Permalink Reply by JeffD on August 19, 2010 at 4:27pm

I am not comfortable with that actually. I agree that God disciplines, but saying that diabetes is God's discipline implies that we have each done something to deserve that discipline, that we deserve the affliction of diabetes.

We all fall short, we are all sinners, and I believe we are saved from the eternal consequences of that sin through Jesus Christ. I also think that when we continue to sin in some way, the main type of discipline we receive is that breach in the fellowship with God. To get back to being able to be close to God, like an angry father who still loves us but doesn't want to be with us for the moment. We are in a kind of "time out" I guess you could say. To enable God to be close to us we have to confess and repent and count on God's foregiveness.

I don't believe we can repent our way out of diabetes, or that we could have avoided it had we led a more righteous life.

I am far from knowleadgable, but what ever the reasons for diabetes, I don't think discipline is among them.

Permalink Reply by Jim on March 17, 2009 at 5:13am

Well God is the giver of good gifts. He only gives us good things and I don't think the pain and fatigue I feel every day is a good gift. However, He also tells us "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God" Romans 8:28 so although He doesn't cause diabetes He can use it to His glory! How? I just think about the people that I can identify with that no one else can. I'm a Youth Pastor and I can visit someone in the hospital in pain and truly say, "I know how you feel, but don't give up". Do I want to have diabetes? Heck no, man I would love to suck down a whole pizza and not have my feet fall off, but until God heals me I will use this stupid disease to His Glory!! So am I thankful? No, not for diabetes, but I am oh so thankful for Him!

Permalink Reply by Lisa on June 10, 2010 at 5:18pm

When I was really young, my mother and I headed to the ice rink like we often did in the winter months. I used to figure skate and often skated numerous times through out the week. So one day I had been complaining about how I no longer wanted to be diabetic and certainly had it with needles and so finally my wise mother says to me...."ok Lisa, then you won't be diabetic anymore!". I should have known something was up since it seemed awfully simple but I was happy and excieted that I no longer would be diabetic. Once we got to the rink, my mom said "are you ready to not be diabetic anymore?" and of course I said "you bet I am!" and then she turned around and pointed to another girl about my age. Now this girl came to the rink every week to watch her sister skate. She had been severly cripped with a degenerative disease that she had to use crutches for and would never get any healthier. That's when mom informed me that I would be switching diseases with this other girl and that now I would no longer have diabetes. Well you can imagin my surprise and pleading to not switch our diseases. It was a good lesson to learn early on in life that there is usually someone who is worse off and would love to have diabetes. The Lord gave me that lesson early on and it gave me a proper perspective and it also taught me that the human body is fragile and weak. Some peoples body's break down quicker than others but everyone will face some sort of weakness and thus we need to count on Him for strength. Is it always easy, nope but I'll take it over a lot of things you can have any day.

Permalink Reply by latvianchick on November 19, 2010 at 2:23pm

Answer to so many questions regarding health problems over the years which never responded to treatment - it was diabetes all along!
Healthier diet. Which does not just influence the diabetes but heart, weight .....
In the UK diabetics receive ALL free prescriptions - whether you are working or not.
They take chestpains and other potentially serious symptoms seriously and you get seen quicker.
In the UK podiatry is notoriously difficult to get an appointment for - diabetic? Go to the top of the list! My feet have never had so much attention! Ditto eyes!
I was talking to a Pastor in my church and experienced a pretty nasty hypo. He started flapping and offered to fetch me my insulin(!) and I said I just needed a couple of biscuits. As I was recovering i mused "D'yu know? I quite like this condition. At least the treatment is quite pleasant!" He was stunned! So was I. I had never thought of it before like that!
So, that is the positive!

Permalink Reply by MarysMom on October 18, 2011 at 9:24am

Well Bethany,
I am just so thankful for all of the care God has given us during this walk. Our daughter Mary was diagnosed 4 years ago.
We have a lot to be thankful for. We have access to good medical care. Her insurance is paying for most of her needs.
We have a strong church body that try to really understand even though none of them have this disease. My husband is a strong support and a wonderful father to all of our 5 children. OH! Thanks for helping me to count my blessings today.
I have been up 3 straight nights in a row dealing with Mary's Basal rates as she is going through a growth spurt! I am soo tired and very weary.