Wisdom, Counsel, and the Journey to Better Health

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6a

by Dee Wieninger

I trust that the knowledge shared in this verse has to do with knowing God, His Will and Purposes and following them. But I believe we can also trust that if we don’t make ourselves knowledgeable in other areas of our life it can harm and quite possibly destroy us.

I have struggled with my Diabetes for many years. Some of my stories convey these struggles and hopefully offer encouragement in managing our health and well-being.

I want to share with you my most recent endeavors as the Lord has provided great success. In April 2026 my A1c was 9.4. In June I had an appointment with my Orthopedic doctor about a right hip replacement. He said he would not complete the surgery unless my A1c was under 7.9. I had left hip replacement two years ago and was able to get my A1c down to 7.2 on my own but after the surgery my efforts went south, and I enjoyed way too many celebrations and holiday meals causing this new A1c of 9.4.

Since my A1c was extremely high and poorly managed, I decided that this time I would apply the wisdom and knowledge I’ve gained and seek wise counsel. (Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 15:22) ** I hired a nutritionist. She understood my desire to stick with a keto diet to lower my A1c and shared many practical thoughts about what to eat and when to eat it to receive my necessary nutrients. She also suggested that I invest in a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) which has made an amazing difference. She recommended a *Lingo”. I do not have to have a prescription, nor is it covered by Medicare (or possibly other medical insurances). It is definitely an out-of-pocket purchase but so worth it. I purchased it through Amazon but at the time of this writing I just signed up for Lingo’s 12-week program on their website. It’s extremely easy to use but only monitors for two weeks.

When I Googled the difference between a Lingo reading and the glucose monitor it states that the Lingo reads interstitial fluids which takes a little longer to receive nearly the same reading as a Blood Glucose Monitor. I have taken readings with my Accu-Chek BGL monitor to compare to the Lingo and it was only a few points difference. This could be different for others.

The beauty of the Lingo is it monitors continuously, and you can see the effects of meals, exercise and even sleep and stress in real time. You not only see numbers but you can monitor the up and down of flow of blood sugars. I found this to be useful especially after eating a certain food or meal. My nutritionist taught me to eat my protein first and then my healthy carbs (i.e. veggies) as this would slow the spikes. Pistachios have become my “go to” nut for helping to slow and even lower BGL spikes. Some programs don’t allow Cottage Cheese but I have found this to help keep my sugars on an even flow. Cottage Cheese has only 3 carbs and 11 grams of protein.

One other app that has proved very helpful in managing my BGL is ***My Fitness Pal. There are many food trackers out there and you can explore one that would most fit your needs. I use “My Fitness Pal” and signed up for the Pro version as it offers some features making this process simpler and actually more fun.

When considering purchasing a CGM I thought it would be a metal needle sticking inside me and would be very uncomfortable. Come to find out that a needle does puncture your skin for a split second, but what is left behind is a little soft filament. I don’t even know it’s there. Because I sleep on my back or right side I wear my Lingo on my left arm.

I am not a doctor, nutritionist or health advisor. I am a sister in the Lord who just wants to share my experiences in hopes that they will encourage you in your health and well-being as well. I would never recommend beginning a new diet program without discussing it with your doctor. I had conversations with my nurse practitioner and she was in total agreement to allow me to find a nutritionist. Links are provided below to find out more about engaging a nutritionist or purchasing the Lingo CGM and using a food tracker.

My prayer is that my story encourages you to seek wisdom, ask for help when needed, and take hopeful, informed steps toward caring for the body and life God has entrusted to you.

 

 

 

*Lingo by Abbott – Glucose Biosensor & App | Glucose Monitor

**Personalized Nutrition Counseling | MD, DC & VA Dietitians | Rebecca Bitzer & Associates

*** Free Calorie Counter, Diet & Exercise Journal | MyFitnessPal