"Tom's History of Diabetes "

My name is Tom Bender. I am a seventy-four year old who has been a diabetic for over thirty-five years. I have experienced the usual problems that come with age and diabetes.

Several years ago, I had two back operations within a six-month period. The problems that necessitated the second operation seriously weakened the muscles in my right leg. After that operation, I began walking with a walker. I eventually graduated to a cane and was able to limp around without the cane, although I felt more comfortable with it, especially when my arduitic right knee would act up.

I started taking Noni juice, one ounce per day, around the first of November 1996. At first I noticed little or no difference.

Since my back operations, I had been sleeping on my side. The problem with this was that about every two hours the pain in my arthritic shoulder would wake me up, and I would have to roll over to my other side. One day I awoke to the fact that I was now able to sleep all night on the same side without pain!

About the same time I began to reaae that after getting out of bed or up from a chair I had to take fewer faltering steps before I could move at my slow pace. Today I am able to get out of bed or up from a chair and move off with relative ease. I find that my mobility is improving almost daily. In addition to the increased mobility, I find that I have little short lived or no body pain whatsoever.

Other good things continue to happen. Foot care is very critical for diabetics. The pulse in my feet has always been relatively strong, but I have been losing the feeling in my feet over the years. Again a realization occurred; I was beginning to feel the insoles of my shoes and the carpet when walking barefooted with my feet. At the sarne time my leg cramps at night began to subside.

And last but not least, after about six weeks my blood glucose levels began to drop dangerously low mid mornings. I adjusted my morning insulin, and my morning glucose levels were still low. Next step, I changed my Noni from one ounce in the morning to one-half ounce prior to each meal. I now have mv blood glucose levels stabilized where I want them. A word of caution: A diabetic should never change medication without the knowledge and advice of his or her Care Team.

Tom Bender

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