This site talks about the importance of controlling blood sugar for people with diabetes.

Glucose Control

The problem is that the manipulations which you perform in order to control your bG sometimes align with what you try in order to lose weight. At other times, they are directly the opposite. Add to that the fact that a diabetic (just like anyone else) should have enough variety and volume in their diet to assure that they are getting enough of the nutrients that they need. Americans spend so much time worrying about eating too much of the wrong things that they forget that the most serious and immediate diseases associated with eating involve not eating enough of the right things.

Eat Right

So a person with diabetes who is trying to lose weight is trying to satisfy three inconsistent sets of requirements: 1) Eat the right things, at the right times, and in the right combinations to keep his bG levels in the correct range 2) Eat enough of the right kinds of foods to meet his minimal nutritional requirements and 3) Eat few enough calories to lose weight.

Insulin resistance refers to the condition in which a person’s body does not utilize the insulin which the body produces. This condition is one of the touchstones of type II diabetes. The cells of the body are resistant to the body’s own insulin (and perhaps somewhat resistant to artificially introduced insulin).

This site talks about the importance of controlling blood sugar for people with diabetes.

By controlling your blood sugar and weight loss, you can reduce your risk of complications.

If you are diabetic and overweight, you should listen to your doctor’s advice. You should also listen to any other advice you get. You should read whatever you can find, take any classes available to you, and generally find out everything you can about this condition. Educate yourself–make an intelligent, well-informed, and well-thought out decision about whether weight loss is advisable for you.

A person trying to control their diabetes must modify their diet and activity patterns to bring their blood glucose (bG) into a certain range. The drugs and insulin therapy help to reduce your bG and/or increase your insulin. Consequently, the insulin therapy (whether oral medication or insulin injections) helps to put your bG into a range which can then be managed by manipulating your diet and exercise.

The problem is that the manipulations which you perform in order to control your bG sometimes align with what you try in order to lose weight. At other times, they are directly the opposite. Add to that the fact that a diabetic (just like anyone else) should have enough variety and volume in their diet to assure that they are getting enough of the nutrients that they need. Americans spend so much time worrying about eating too much of the wrong things that they forget that the most serious and immediate diseases associated with eating involve not eating enough of the right things.

I was skimming over JDRF groups in the States last night, when I came across the story of Larry and Lucky Parker. Most people who were alive in the 70’s and old enough to comprehend the tragedy that occurred concerning the Parker’s decision to withhold their son’s lifesaving insulin injections,resulting in his death were eager to watch the 1988 interpretation of the contoversy that surrounded the Parker’s, their church and the events following the death of their son in a Steve Gyllenhaal film, Promised A Miracle.

I read a lot about the Parker’s last night. They were a decent. church going family, who had tremendous faith and belief in the miracles that God had performed within their own congregation. When they were approached by a healer who convinced them that the life saving properties of Western Medicine would and could be superceded by the power of prayer, they considered withdrawing his medication, and were encouraged by the congregation to believe in the miracles that only God could perform. Their son, who suffered from “severe” Type 1 Diabetes was dependent on the life-giving insulin shots his parents gave him daily.

That was until they deprived him of his insulin requirements completely, putting all of their belief in their congregation’s desire for prayer to cure the Parker’s son of the “devil’s interference.”

His hyperglycaemic halluncinations were blamed on “the devil” or “evil forces”, trying to scare them back into commencing insulin therapy to correct their son’s rapidly deteriorating condition. Still. they did not relent and their faith remained stronger than ever.

Three days later, Larry and Lucky’s son died.

The Parker’s sent out media releases and asked for prayer groups from all over the world to pray for the resurrection of their son. (According to the evangelist, he would “rise” four days after death, diabetes free.)

Naturally, he didn’t.

The Parker’s were so overwhelmed with what they had done, and it wasn’t long before the police were called into the whole debacle.  They were charged and sentenced with involuntary manslaughter.

After reading many viewer’s comments. I found myself searching for as much information as I could regarding the Parker’s.

I checked on EBay Australia, and there was 1 tattered copy of the film available. I bought it-I just want to watch it once to see how the devout faith of one Californian family crashed and burned into nothing short of devastation and heartbreak.

There is also a book available by Larry Parker called “We Let Our Son Die.” In due time I will order it and read his reasonings behind allowing a “healer” to convince him to stop his son’s life saving medication.

I guess I just wanted to put my 5 cents worth in. I can’t judge the Parker’s decision, because I don’t know the entire story or all the facts behind their choice, however, I am imploring parent’s in the world today who have a child with Type 1 Diabetes to NEVER, EVER stop your child’s injections or insulin therapy.. Even when they are sick and not eating, people with diabetes STILL require insulin to stay alive. It is a hormone that is essential to LIVE.

Two arrests were made in April this year concerning the parents’ of a child with Type 1 Diabetes decision to cease insulin injections, resulting in her death.  These parents, too, were giving the power of prayer a chance to cure their child of Type 1 Diabetes. 

 As wonderful as it is to have faith, and knowing how much comfort it brings so many people across the world, your child WILL DIE if you stop their medication. Even though insulin is not a cure, you might like to stop and thank your God for the gift of man made insulin. It is what keeps our children and every person with Type 1 Diabetes alive and able to grow into healthy, strong adults. It’s the ONLY way. There are NO exceptions or alternatives.

Stopping your child’s insulin will end in tragedy and disaster.

Without their daily insulin, they WILL eventually become unconsious, they WILL eventually lapse into a coma, and they WILL die.

 As much as we create awareness and inform our politicians that ”insulin is not a cure”, it’s a blessed miracle that we have the ability to keep our children alive and healthy as a result of daily insulin injections.

NEVER STOP INSULIN INJECTIONS. YOU’LL NEVER FORGIVE YOURSELF FOR MAKING THIS FATAL DECISION.

If you want to test God through the power of prayer,keep praying for the cure that our all too-patient, beautiful children deserve.