A Story of Recovery:

Medical Miracle

I’m a Native American, born in Detroit, MI.  I got sober over 20 years ago, and I know that when I put down alcohol, I picked up sugar and flour. I believe I was born with allergies to sugar and flour, because I’ve always craved junk food. I never realized how much sugar and flour helped me to not feel my emotions.

My weight finally went up to 223 pounds, and I developed type II diabetes.  At the age of 47, I had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I was also emotionally depressed and spiritually broken.

When I was 56 years old, my doctor kept telling me I needed to lose weight and he sent me to classes to learn about managing my diabetes. I was in such denial; I kept telling myself that it wasn’t so bad. I didn’t know how I could live without the foods I craved. I felt like I had already given up alcohol and drugs, and that was enough.

Diabetes is prevalent on both sides of my family. I have a grandfather, aunts, and uncles who have suffered from diabetes and alcoholism. My grandfather and aunt each lost both their legs, and another aunt went blind from diabetes.

My blood sugars were averaging in the 200s and my vision was getting pretty fuzzy.  When my diabetes started getting really bad, I was taking four pills, 40 units of insulin, and high blood pressure medicine, but I couldn’t tolerant cholesterol medicine. My doctor told me that the next step was to add insulin before meals, and he warned me that my diabetes would be really hard to manage. He told me again that I needed to lose weight and that I was really headed for serious complications.

I told my friend in AA about my serious medical problems and how I really needed to lose weight. I realized that food was killing me, and that I had never learned how to eat in a healthy way.  She told me about her sponsor, who had to lose weight because she had a heart attack. She told me that she had gone to FA meetings, lost 40 pounds, and looked fabulous. That got my attention, so I asked about FA…”what did she do?” My friend said she heard is was really strict, and that they don’t eat flour or sugar products. My reaction was shock! What. no flour or sugar? I thought that was crazy! My friend said her sponsor struggled but, found that it worked and that she was very happy, and healthier. I asked for her number and called her about a week later. She gave me the Web site address.

When I went to my first meeting my weight was 190 pounds (I’m 5’3.”) I felt welcomed, and many people encouraged me to come back. They suggested I take a phone list, and I start calling people. The second person I called asked if I had a sponsor. I said…”ah no”…She volunteered to be my sponsor and told me I needed to purchase a digital food scale and digital weight scale. She gave me a food plan and said that I needed to get my doctor’s approval before I could begin.

My doctor said if I started to eat this way, she would change my medications immediately and that I would need insulin only if my blood sugar was higher than 110 at night. Within three months, my glucose levels were under control and I no longer need insulin, metformin, lisinopril, or medication for depression. My cholesterol is down to 151. It’s a miracle!  I’ve can’t remember when I have felt this good.

It took me six months to hit my goal weight of 125 pounds. I love maintenance, enjoy my food, and no longer suffer from indigestion. I even gave up caffeine, and for an alcoholic, that’s something.

I’m amazed that measuring and weighing three meals a day has given me my life back! I’ve also joined an AWOL and love the in-depth study of the Twelve Steps. I have taken my sponsor’s suggestions of asking my Higher Power for help and practicing the tools of FA. All of this has strengthened my spirituality and has made me so thankful for FA.