Diabetic No More!
by Marylyn Szakacs
Living Nutrition Vol. 5

As I write this story, it has been four short months since my rebirth, that day in March, 1998 when I attended a lecture given by Roe Gallo and began pursuing a healthier lifestyle. I was very skeptical as I listened to ideas that seemed, at first, to be bizarre and foreign. However, Roe presented herself as knowledgeable about the physiology of the human body and was a shining example of her own philosophy. As I listened, the ideas began to sound so logical, so natural: eat only uncooked organic fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. I was already semi-vegetarian so it wasn't a big leap to go all the way. Two of my friends, Suzie Milkowich and Marie Ruxton added testimony about their experiences with the raw food diet and I realized that this might be the answer to my prayers.

At age 52 I made a life-altering decision to follow Roe's plan. I felt that I had nothing to lose; except possibly some unwanted weight (I weighed 183 pounds) the toxins stored in my body and, hopefully, my diabetes! I'd been searching for an answer to my diabetes since I was diagnosed as borderline diabetic approximately seven years before. At first I used diet to try to control blood sugar levels, with limited success. Doctors prescribed a variety of oral medications but sugar levels fluctuated. In 1996, after major kidney surgery with almost fatal complications, my blood sugar levels rose and I was told that I would have to inject myself with insulin. At first I was in denial and then I was devastated when I realized I was losing control of my body. I was told this disease was incurable; it was degenerative; it was forever and repercussions were ugly at the end!

Being a very positive person, I did not accept the experts' answers but instead started my own quest for a more constructive solution. I subscribed to alternative medicine publications, joined a vitamin co-op, shopped at health food stores and spent much time and money to find something that worked. Although there was some improvement, my diabetic condition was still there At one point I was spending almost $200 each month on vitamins and supplements to make me healthy! I knew that I could not go on this way. The information was overwhelming and sometimes conflicting and very confusing.

I decided to seek my answers through a wholistic osteopathic doctor, hoping he could clarify the tangled web of information. He suggested that I try a macrobiotic diet. I consulted his dietitician and bought all the required food from his office store. I was willing to try anything to get healthy again, even eating whole oats (unprocessed, like a horse eats), whole barley, whole rye, whole buckwheat, seaweed, whole brown rice, whole millet, miso, organic whole legumes, and a variety of supplements. After six months of this costly and time-consuming regimen, my fasting blood sugar was 248, higher than it had been previously. Imagine how discouraged I felt that day in the doctor's office as I tried to digest this news which was the exact opposite of what I expected to hear. On the way home, I thought about what I was doing wrong, and blamed myself for the negative results, beating myself up over my efforts. What should I do now?

Enter Roe Gallo! Call it what you want - divine providence, coincidence, luck - the timing was right. On the spur of the moment I decided to attend Roe's lecture that I heard about through Suzie. I spoke to Roe after the talk and she assured me that the fruit would not increase my blood sugar levels. I did not feel ready for fasting, but started slowly with orange juice, other fruits and raw vegetables. The first oranges I bought weren't organically grown, but using an antique hand juicer I was on my way. Suzie and Marie, helped me and supported me by listening any time of the day or night, offering their encouragement and sharing their knowledge. They helped me get organic produce. They were there when the tingling and pain in my fingers and arms was so intense that I couldn't sleep. They were there when I had my doubts about what I was doing. They were there when friends and family thought I was crazy. They were there throughout every crisis.

After one month of juicing and raw foods, I tested my blood sugar level. I was very scared, but when I looked, the numbers on the monitor said 141 - that's over 100 points lower than it had been the previous month! Needless to say, I was elated. And so far it's been holding steady, except for one or two setbacks when I ate foods that I wasn't supposed to eat. But I'm human and I do mess up sometimes. Now I know that if I stray from the path, I'll pay the consequences. I feel 99% better when I follow Roe's natural plan. I also look much better since I've shed approximately 40 pounds. I'm still detoxing; getting rid of years of poisons that have clogged my system. At this point I can see the end of the tunnel. I will be free of the sludge that keeps me from having a "perfect body". inside and out. And best of all, I am diabetic no more!

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