"We had so much fun hanging the May basket on our neighbor's door handle, ringing the doorbell - then running like mad!!!" - Linda Palmer
But today I want to talk about another kind of May Day. It's known as a "mayday" - a distress call, used only in cases of "grave and imminent danger" by those at sea.
Many people think that one "May Day" has something to do with the other, but that's not true. The root of the distress call "mayday" is French - m'aidez (help me) or m'aider (to render help to me). There are no flowers or festivals associated with this whatsoever. If you hear someone yell "mayday" three times in a row, they are definitely in trouble!
I was not at sea when I had to use a distress call, but I was at the end of my rope medically speaking. By the time I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes my body was definitely sinking fast! Since I have suffered with sciatica since 1984, I did not realize that the increased numbness in my right leg was actually the beginning stages of diabetic neuropathy. Silly me - I just thought my sciatica was worsening.
My kidneys were not functioning well and for a while I had to take medication for that, as well as increasing the dose of the blood pressure medication I was taking.
There was talk of possible tooth loss at the Dentist's office. I had very severe periodontal gum disease (gingivitis) and my gums bled quite easily. If gums become too red and swollen, they cannot hold the teeth in place, thus, the teeth fall out.
Thankfully my eyes always passed the eye examinations with flying colors! I had the typical changes that come with age, there was no sign of diabetic retinopathy! My Optometrist said, "If you had not told me you are diabetic, nothing in these test results would have indicated it to me." What a wonderful report to get! My eyes were spared and I was (and am) so grateful to God!
Still, I knew I needed guidance after my devastating diagnosis. From the moment I was diagnosed, I believe with all my heart that God put some pretty wonderful people in my path! When you say "mayday" to God, you don't even have to repeat it three times - He is there once he hears the faintest whisper from you - He's already helping you by the time you say "may..."
The day I was diagnosed we were in church getting ready to have a potluck lunch after the morning service. My best friend was a Diabetic Educator. She carried a glucose meter around with her, and asked me if she could check my glucose before we ate. She checked it and it was over 300!
I no longer felt hungry and I was visibly shaken. We walked back into the sanctuary and sat down. She began to explain diabetes to me. When she started talking about ketones, I just lost it. I cried uncontrollably for a long time. Finally, she grabbed both of my shoulders and looked me square in the face and said, "You can BEAT this!"
She made me believe I could - and I felt better. She is just one example of the wonderful people that God has set before me. It's been an incredible journey. I was introduced to holistic medicine and their method to reverse diabetes a couple of years ago, through my Chiropractor. It's true that when I eat a high-alkaline diet, my neuropathy (and my sciatica, for the most part) is improved. Drinking water instead of soda improves everything as well. Staying hydrated is key.
I met so many great people through the Diabetic Online Community (DOC) and received so much love, concern and support there. My friend Nick Faulkner made YouTube videos in the U.K. about how he reversed diabetes. I have the link here in the Right-hand margin if you'd care to watch them. Meeting Nick was certainly a God thing. What encouragement I gained from his knowledge and experience!
What struck me most about the videos was the severity of Nick's symptoms - and how they nearly mirrored my own. Apart from the fact that I had no sign of retinopathy, we were basically on similar paths. We're also very close to the same age and live similar lifestyles. I was already on a high-alkaline diet for my neuropathy by the time I saw the videos, but when I saw how successful he had been, it reaffirmed my belief that I was indeed headed down the right path.
I see God's Hand in my journey with diabetes. He's taking such good care of me, and I know He will care for me in the future as well. I cried out to Him - "mayday... mayday... mayday" and I knew He heard and answered my distress call.
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