Yep! The very thing my doctor said avoid was now my reality. I still didn't take it seriously! I wasn't taking my insulin and that caused me to run 300-500 on a daily basis. I never saw a low or normal number.size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Style Even after the high numbers I still didn't take the insulin! I began to notice my vision was getting poor and the weight was getting worse. But that's not the worst part. It started out as little pins in my feet and toes and then turned into stabbing sensations. I can remember the sleepless nights due to the pain. The more I complained to my doctor the more medicine they prescribed. I started taking the insulin, but by then it was too late. I had developed permanent nerve damage... neuropathy! Neuropathy is irreversible so that's something I have to live with Forever. As I stated, it was too late, and I still wasn't doing right 100%, so I was out on an insulin pump to ensure I was getting the proper dosage at the proper time. That pump became apart of me. It was my accessory- everywhere I went the pump had to be there. I couldn't even hide the thing!! The cord was so long and it screamed at me so much! It was embarrassing! I had insurance so it was covered, but for someone who didn't have insurance, it would have cost over $4,000 every three months! Nobody told me insulin equaled weight gain. Guess what... you guessed it, I gained MORE Weight. I was at my heaviest ever- 262lbs. Can you imagine a shorty like me- 5 foot 5 and 262lbs. I was unhappy and unhealthy BUT my blood sugar was under control. The downside was my kidneys were functioning at 75% and my pancreas was shutting down! I had a fatty liver and I couldn't feel my toes!! My vision was poor and my skin was turning dark! I tried diet pills, diets, gyms, etc. sure I lost some weight but it wasn't enough. I remember one night my husband and I were talking and I had just had a low blood sugar because my pump had given me too much insulin, he said to me "We gotta get you off this pump" My response was "But my doctor said I will NEVER be off the pump or insulin. She said this was the rest of my life". Well, it's true, my doctor told me that I would never be able to get off insulin but she could reduce the dosage. She was not just any doctor, she was an endocrinologist! My life consisted of doctors visits and insulin. One day my husband and I had a conversation with my cousin Rayon Harrison and he was telling us that he changed his lifestyle and how he didn't take medication, get sick, or anything. It peaked our interest and we wanted to learn more. The more he guided us the more knowledge we received. Then his wife Kiesha Harrison offered to help me as well and we began working out CONSISTENTLY and I quit certain things cold turkey. I remember looking at my pump saying " This is the last month and you are out of here!"  Rayon introduced me to juicing. He would say "I'm going to give you the keys so you can do it yourself". I knew I couldn't be lazy about this so I decided to fight pasts. my thoughts, cravings, and old habits. Rayon provided the steps and I followed. It's like he handed me a set of car keys and said "Here, it's yours now ". I started off with a basic juicer and juiced different things. Come to find out, I really enjoyed the taste. However... I didn't like to juice because it was too much work but I kept going. So, at that point I was eating healthy, juicing, and working out. Within the first month I lost 13lbs and I threw my insulin pump away!! I NEVER followed up with my endocrinologist, who I was due to see they same month. Nope!! I went to my PCP and told her that I wasn't going to take anymore insulin and she was VERY supportive. She said "If you have 2 weeks of consistent good blood sugar readings I will take you off". Ha! Little did she know I had taken myself off! Shhh! My doctor was pleased with my numbers and she took me off insulin officially. My A1C was 11.2 when she saw me and 3 months later I was down to a 9. 3 months later I was at a 7 and as of right now I'm at a 6.1!! I'm almost normal!!! Guess what... My kidney function is 100% and my pancreas is pancreasing. Yep, I made that up lol. My pancreas is working normal. My cardiologist said that my heart is healthy, but I still have an issue that is defective but not weight related. I was in a size 20 pants and now I'm in my daughters size 14 with no problems zipping them up!! From 252 to 190... I'm not stopping!! I have energy! My skin is looking good, the dark circles under my eyes have faded a lot! I can run up stairs without feeling winded. Juicing has changed my life! I  even spoiled myself and upgraded my wedding rings because I went down half a size!I even invested in myself and upgraded my juicer, so now juicing is FUN! I owe my success to the "Juice man" Rayon Harrison and his beautiful wife, and my sister Ki'esha Harrison! The love and motivation had beefed AMAZING and when I went through the withdrawals and downs I got support. My husband had played a HUGE role in my journey because he had been behind the scenes. When no one else knew my struggles he did and he had always been there to keep me going. It's been a journey and I don't plan on stopping. When I first began my journey my goal was 200. Then 195-190. Now that I'm there my new goal is 185-180 and possibly 175-160. For anyone who struggles with change YOU CAN DO IT!! I decided to pour back into myself and put ME first. I'm just getting started! You have to believe in yourself and in the words of my husband TRUST THE PROCESS! I'm a happier, healthier, more confident person now and it's all because of support and a mind shift. Join me in this amazing journey and movement. Turn Up and Beat sickness 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾