Living with Diabetes: How Stem Cell Therapy in Thailand Changed My Life

Hello, everyone. My name is Sarah. For over twenty years, I defined myself by my energy. As a high school principal, I was always on the move—walking the halls, attending football games, and organizing assemblies. But about four years ago, my world started to shrink. I want to share my journey because I know there are so many women out there silently suffering, thinking that declining health is just a part of aging. I was living with Type 2 Diabetes, and it was stealing the joy from my life.

The Day the Music Stopped It didn't happen overnight. It was a slow creep. First, it was the exhaustion—the kind where you can barely drag yourself out of bed. Then came the neuropathy. It felt like I was walking on broken glass. I went from wearing my favorite heels to sensible flats, and eventually, to orthopedic sneakers that I was embarrassed to wear to board meetings.

My doctor was kind, but his toolkit was limited. He prescribed more insulin and gabapentin for the nerve pain. I felt foggy, bloated, and trapped in my own body. I remember missing my granddaughter's dance recital because my feet hurt so bad I couldn't drive. That broke my heart.

Searching for a Better Way I’m a researcher by nature. I started digging into alternative treatments and kept coming across stem cell therapy for diabetes. The science made sense to me—using cells to help repair the damaged tissues and calm the inflammation causing my pain. But in the US, the options were frustrating. The treatments were either not approved, extremely restricted, or cost as much as a luxury car with zero insurance coverage. I felt defeated. That’s when I found medical tourism. The idea of going abroad for healthcare seemed risky at first. I worried about safety, language barriers, and hygiene. I didn't want to make a mistake. Finding Comfort with PlacidWay Medical Tourism. I stumbled upon PlacidWay during a late-night Google search.

I filled out a form, not expecting much. The next day, I received a call that changed everything. The representative I spoke with was wonderful. She didn't push me; she educated me. She listened to my fears about traveling to Asia. She explained that Thailand has some of the best regenerative medicine clinics in the world, with standards that often exceed what we have at home. She connected me with a clinic in Bangkok. Seeing the photos of the facility and reading the doctor's credentials—he had trained in the US—put my mind at ease. PlacidWay handled the coordination, answering my endless list of questions with patience.

A Journey of Healing My husband and I treated the trip like a second honeymoon. When we arrived in Bangkok, the anxiety melted away. The city was vibrant, and the clinic was breathtaking. It didn't smell like a hospital; it felt like a high-end spa. The staff treated me like family. They were gentle and attentive. The stem cell procedure was much easier than I anticipated. There was no surgery involved, just intravenous drips and local injections. I brought a book to read, but I ended up chatting with the nurses who were so warm and welcoming.

Recovery in Paradise Recovery wasn't about lying in a hospital bed. Once the doctors gave me the all-clear, we explored the city. We took a boat ride down the Chao Phraya River and visited beautiful temples. Being away from the stress of my job allowed my body to truly rest and accept the treatment. The Transformation It has been seven months since I returned to Oregon. The changes have been subtle but profound. Blood Sugar Control: My A1C levels are the lowest they have been in a decade.

I’ve been able to reduce my insulin significantly. Nerve Pain: This is the biggest miracle. The "walking on glass" sensation is gone. I still have a little numbness now and then, but the pain doesn't control my life anymore. Vitality: I’m back to walking the halls at school with a spring in my step. I even started a small garden in my backyard again.

If you are a woman feeling trapped by your diagnosis, please know you have options. It takes courage to look outside your borders, but the reward can be your life back. PlacidWay Medical Tourism made that journey safe and possible for me, and I am forever grateful.