The Nerve of Diabetes: My Journey as Told by a Woman of Faith

By Sharon Jones-Cook MSW LMSW

It has been my lifelong dream to write a booknot just any book but a book to encourage and inspire anyone who has been given a devastating diagnosis that this is not the end of it all. As long as you have breath in your body, always fight to survive whatever the trial or tribulation, pain, and suffering may be.

May my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the healer of all diseases, bless each and every reader of this book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543456974

Sharon Jones-Cook MSW LMSW

I am licensed by the state of Michigan to practice as a Clinical Social Worker. My bachelor in social work (BSW) was received from Marygrove College in Detroit, MI and I studied medial social work in a hospital setting. My master in social work (MSW) was received from Wayne State University also in Detroit, MI. with both degrees I worked in hospitals on the medical Geriatric units and Psychiatric units. I have worked in a mental health agency and on the psychiatric units/crisis center of a hospital. I have had all-encompassing opportunities in both arenas to work with diabetic patients. I have done individual and family counseling. I have seen all stages of the diabetic patient and now I am the patient!! !! !

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 by Sharon Jones-Cook, MSW, LMSW.

Library of Congress Control Number:      2017915367

ISBN:                      Hardcover                     978-1-5434-5699-8

                                 Softcover                       978-1-5434-5698-1

                                 eBook                            978-1-5434-5697-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 10/28/2017

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Special Acknowledgments

The Preface

Chapter 1

The Beginning

Chapter 2

What is Diabetes?

Are you well informed?

Chapter 3

When I became aware of Diabetes

My denial of the disease

Chapter 4

My Mothers’ Struggles; the devastation of seeing your parent suffer-feeling helpless

Chapter 5

Learning of my siblings’ diagnosis of TYPE II Diabetes

witnessing the unavoidable

Chapter 6

My weight loss struggles

Chapter 7

The effects of Diabetes on my body organs

The most important was my heart

Chapter 8

The onset of Diabetes Neuropathy

Chapter 9

How TYPE II Diabetes Affected my body organs

Chapter 10

Communicating With Your Primary Care Physician, the Administrator of Your Care

Chapter 11

The nerve as it relates to Diabetes Neuropathy

The pain and cure

Chapter 12

My Life-Changing Journey

My new Journey Has Just Begun

Chapter 13

My Faith in God Has Sustained Me

References

DEDICATION

T HIS BOOK IS dedicated, first to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I thank him for saving me and sparing my life. I would not be here to write and tell of his grace and mercy unto me and the journey he has brought me through except that he who loves and cares for me.

To my husband, Mr. James E. Cook with whom I shared fifty years of marriage, who has been the most phenomenal care giver during times of sickness and health. He was devoted to me and assisted me 24/7.

To my late parents, Administrative Assistant Superintendent Samuel L. Jones and Mother Hattie M. Jones who were there from the beginning and raised me up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (KJV) From the beginning, my father taught me to put my faith in God for my healing, when he would anoint me with oil and pray. He taught me that once I prayed I should leave the burden in the hands of the Lord.

To my first-born, Mrs. Yvette Jeanette Ware, who cared for me when I couldn’t do for myself and didn’t falter when I cried out in excruciating pain!

To my son, Mr. Samuel E. Cook, D.Ed., who would always come to my bedside to comfort me. Even in the rehabilitation center he would bring coffee from home to make sure I had one of my morning comforts.

To my son Elder James L. Cook II and my daughter Mrs. Geneva L. Wilson: thank you for all your love and prayers.

I must offer a special thank you to Dr. Admah, my neurologist, who was persistent and tenacious in finding the reason for my pain that I had and the medicine that he prescribed for my cure. He never gave up, he didn’t do a lot of talking but continued to order tests and research the