Lifestyle medicine reverses diabetes for Gina Lupton

By Gina Lupton as told to Leilani Hortaleza

What is it like to be diabetic for fifteen years? The developing pain and numbness in my lower limbs kept me from walking more than 40 feet. The weight piled on and strained my back; retinopathy of the eyes damaged my vision. I maxed out on medications to 190 units of insulin and 2,000 mg of diabetes medication daily. As each day passed, I was just waiting to die.

I needed help and half-heartedly looked at different lifestyle centers where I could find it. Then I met a lady who went to the Hartland Lifestyle Education Center, only a five-hour drive from home. She left the impression that not only did her health improve, but she also received spiritual and emotional healing. I called the number she gave, but only the answering machine picked up. Too discouraged to keep trying, I soon hung up. I’m so glad the director, Maria Gligor, called back five minutes later and encouraged me to come.

When I finally arrived, I could only walk across the parking lot before the pain stopped me. I was a pasty, dour, and miserable creature! Nevertheless, Maria motivated me to walk 50 steps more each day. Today, I walk over a mile. It’s a miracle! My husband is shocked and awed at the transformation because I look happy and I am happy. I feel alive!

There were struggles. As a “meat and potatoes person,” I didn’t eat vegetables or fruit. The thought of going to a lifestyle center where there would be nothing to eat but these items terrified me! Instead, the mouth-watering food they served surprised me. I loved the flavors; I enjoyed everything! Eating became a delicious, health-giving experience.

The results? Initial lab work found my white blood cell count at 12,000, signaling an infection, but it came down to 5,500 in only 18 days. I also lost 25 pounds. All the lab results showed great progress, and I am now down to only 45 units of insulin.

Coming to the lifestyle center definitely improved my health, but I also needed to be healed spiritually. That has happened largely as a result of the influence of the staff and students. These dedicated young people love the Lord; being surrounded with their energy filled me, fed me, and led me back to His arms.

I praise God for His goodness. I’m not just existing anymore, but I’m learning to live again. If you or someone you know needs help with diabetes, tell them to find a place where they can get help—and I suggest, by experience, that they come here!

by Leilani Hortaleza

“It’s a miracle and a blessing to be at Hartland!” Ruth Warner, originally from Michigan, came to the Lifestyle Education Center (LEC) at a friend’s suggestion.
Ruth had been in an accident and could walk only with great pain. She suffered constant pain in her hips, joints, and lower back. Recurring headaches and fatigue also plagued her. “I came to the LEC to be changed,” she said.

Ruth wanted to learn how to make these changes in her health. “A better understanding of how to make these changes came from the health lectures. I appreciated being educated.” She found herself not only learning valuable
information, but also practicing what she learned. “I appreciated so much the cooking demonstrations, the treatments, and the transformation in the way I
feel. I can walk better, and I have had no headaches since the first day here.” Ruth
continued to lose weight and was soon able to walk with minimal pain.

In addition to these changes, Ruth also discovered other blessings. “I was able to
form some very good friendships; the young people here are wonderful. Dr. Tolan taught me so much about food properties and spent a lot of time with the health guests.”

Ruth also found time to improve her most important friendship. “I learned how to
maintain a closer walk with God. I see now the great importance of spending quiet time with Him.”

Not only has Ruth experienced healing, but so have some of her friends! One of
them came to visit during the LEC session and sat in on a health lecture. “The
next day he went from drinking sixteen cups of soda per day to straight water. He
changed his diet, too, by eating more fruits and vegetables each day. That’s pretty powerful!” says Ruth.

Now that Ruth has completed the session, she plans to continue making the right choices with her lifestyle. “I pray that I will stay faithful. This body is for God’s
glory, and it is His temple. By my own choices I was bringing harm to it. Now, through obedient choices, I can have good health. I am really excited to see what the Lord will do.”

Since she’s been home, Ruth’s enthusiasm has been contagious! “I’ve already encouraged four other friends to come to the LEC,” she says. One of them even requested Ruth’s prayers for his health. “I was able to take all the knowledge that I’ve learned at Hartland and tell him, ‘Drink water and get sunshine.’ It’s nice to have an answer. It’s nice to give people hope!”