What happened? I tested my blood sugar and it was 102!

That might be normal for some people or a little high for others or it may not mean anything to you! But for me, it was a turning point in my health and gave me a new outlook on the rest of my life.

I’ve had diabetes for several years. I didn’t even know I had it until a blood test showed I did.

But over the years, it’s gotten worse. I’ve made brief progress from time to time with diet or exercise or meds, but not in ways that seemed sustainable to me.

And I still didn’t notice anything different in my body, so I wasn’t sure it was even worth the time and effort.

But last Christmas things had changed, and I noticed it in a dramatic way.

I was in production mode for three months leading up to my new musical, His Name Was Nicolas. As rehearsals went on, I realized I was having to step out and use the bathroom more and more, a sign that my blood sugar might be out of control.

By the time we reached our final rehearsals, I realized I wouldn’t be able to sit at the piano on stage and direct the show for three hours straight. There were limited bathrooms and lots of people. Breaks for me would be nonexistent.

I panicked.

For the first time in my life, I bought some Depends (adult diapers). I’d never worn them before, so I wasn’t sure how they’d work, but at least I had a backup plan in case I had an emergency.

And I did. Partway through the first show, and in front of a live audience, I couldn’t hold back any longer.

(It reminded me of a joke where an elderly man asked an elderly woman: "If I took you out for a full night of wining, dining, and dancing, what would you wear?” She replied: “Depends.”)

Well, that night, I was thankful for mine. There’s nothing quite like playing and singing a song in front of a live audience, then having to stand up and dance across the stage for the big ending, not knowing if I could depend on my Depends or not.

Praise God, I could! I finished the song and the crowd cheered.

Humbling? You bet. A wake up call? Absolutely.

After the last curtain call, I scheduled an appointment with my doctor for after the holidays.

A week later, I got Covid and was knocked down for three months fighting Covid fatigue, and it was another nine months before I even got half my energy back.

My blood sugars were out of control, sometimes peaking above 200, which for me was an all-time high.

So what changed recently? What turned it around?

In November, I happened to meet a diabetes consultant in my writers group. One day after class, I asked if we could talk.

I told him about my situation, the things I had tried, and how I had practically lost hope. I was afraid my health was in a downward spiral and might never recover.

He talked me off that ledge and gave me some simple help. He spent several hours with me, explaining what was happening in my body and what I could do to address it.

His explanation opened my eyes. I was finally able to see a path forward. (It came down to diet and exercise, something I’d heard before, but now I understood why I was doing it!)

After just a few days, my numbers started coming down. After a few weeks, they were coming down still more! And two weeks ago, I tested my blood sugar again. I was shocked to see the number that popped up on the screen: 102!

I hadn’t seen that low of a number in years. (And no, this is not a commercial for any program or pill or person.)

What I really want to share is what God did that day in my heart.

For the first time in years, I had HOPE in regards to my health. I had nearly resigned myself to continually declining health for the rest of my life, feeling like my tent posts were being removed from my body one by one until it would finally collapse.

Seeing 102 pop up gave me hope again for my physical health, and that sparked hope again for my spiritual health. I suddenly had a renewed excitement for the projects in front of me.

Sometimes, the best thing we can do for ourselves spiritually is to get better physically.

What about you? What might be taking a toll on your life spiritually because something is taking a toll on your life physically? What resolutions have you made and broken, then made and broken again, leaving you with little or no hope?

What do you need from God that could help you take your next step… a step that could lead to better health, more strength, stronger faith… a step that is doable, sustainable, and actually exciting to you?

I want to encourage you to keep taking those steps, keep asking God for help, and keep trusting that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.

I know there’s still a road ahead of me. But the view today is much better than it was a month ago, a year ago, or even a decade ago.

I believe I can do this. I believe I can make it. And with God’s help, I believe I will live out the fullness of days God has ordained for me.

It’s a little win that gave me GREAT hope.

And that’s worth celebrating.