I spoke with a lovely, bright, young woman. She’s been type-1 diabetic for about two years or so. She uses a low carb version of the GAPS diet. A subscriber to Diabetic Dharma, she saw similarities to my way of dealing with diabetes.

We talked on the phone. She wanted to know what I was experiencing. I definitely didn’t have enough time to talk to her. I felt bad having to interrupt her story. She was telling me about some sad feelings she was having dealing with diabetes.

These feelings are so common for anyone with a chronic illness. Yet, they are nothing to ignore or to try and mask by taking anti-depressants. And as far as I can see, going to a counsellor usually isn’t much help either. (Of course, if you are suicidal you may have to try these things to feel some improvement.)

The answer I found for myself is SLEEPING and RESTING. Resting with eyes closed and maybe doing some breathing exercises – not reading, not listening to anything, just lying still.

Dr.L. Wilson (co-founder of Nutritional Balancing Program) says depression is your body asking for rest or more sleep on a sofa, a bed or even the grass (which can ground you to the earth). The body needs time to heal. Dr L. Wilson feels that it so important. It enables the body to really go deep into healing. It should be a priority, if you want to heal.

I read this quote by Thomas Jefferson: “If you want something you never had, you must be willing to do something you have never done.” Maybe for a lot of us type-1 diabetics, that “something you have never done” is get proper rest and sleep. What do you think? (You can send me an email with your thoughts.)