When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, my former doctor told me about Medifast. Online advertisements say it's doctor-approved, but I wonder what group of doctors they actually polled?
Medifast is a meal-replacement program. You eat only one regular meal a day, and mostly eat their products the rest of the day.
My mother and I tried the program, and I just couldn't stick with it. Liquids do not satisfy me, so I never really felt, well, satisfied. I never lost weight.
But if it works for some of you out there, I applaud you. Much like clothing, there is no one-size-fits-all diet.
So why am I telling you this?
While looking through the October issue of Diabetes Forecast magazine, I found an article titled "Going Without: The Dos and Don't of Fasting With Diabetes" by Erika Gebel. I thought it was worth sharing.
Many of us who struggle with weight may have at one time or another said, "Well, I just won't eat anything at all." That may sound good in theory, but carrying through with that may not be the best notion, especially for people with diabetes.
In the article we hear from Kathaleen Briggs Early, a registered dietitian at the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima, Wash.
Early says that much of the research about fasting and diabetes was based on Ramadan, the annual Islamic observance that requires fasting from sunrise to sundown for 29 or 30 days.
She cites a commentary published in 2010 in Diabetes Care that focused mainly on fasting during Ramadan. But many of the issues it raised are relevant to other types of fasting. The commentary states that "most often, the medical recommendation will be to not undertake fasting" if you have diabetes.
The commentary acknowledges that fasting for spiritual reasons is a personal decision, but it is one that should include the guidance of a health-care provider.
Early says that anybody with diabetes needs to talk first with his or her doctor about going on a fast. (Based on my experience, I would make that "your diabetes expert.") Medication, nutrition and hydration need to be taken into account. Regularly monitoring blood glucose levels during fasting is also key to avoiding health emergencies.
Not eating when taking insulin or diabetes medications can raise the risk of low or high blood-glucose levels. And if your fast requires abstinence from water, dehydration can raise the risk for serious complications among susceptible people, such as those with kidney or heart disease.
Early says that in extreme cases, electrolytes can get out of whack and make things worse. Electrolytes are minerals in our bodies that have an electric charge. They are found in our bodily fluids. Maintaining the right balance helps our body's blood chemistry, muscle action and other processes. Sodium, calcium, potassium, chlorine, phosphate and magnesium are all electrolytes. Imbalances affect the mind and can even stop your heart.
If you do decide to fast, you need to know when to quit. Break the fast if your glucose levels are lower than 70 or higher than 300.
Other signs, Early says, can include dark urine, severe headache, nausea and throwing up.
But there are situations that may require fasting. The term "fasting glucose levels" usually means how much glucose is in the blood during periods when we are not eating, like during sleep.
Surgeries that require a general anesthetic often require a person to fast due to the possibility of food leaking upward out of the stomach and into the throat or lungs during the procedure.
And as mentioned, many religions include fast days that involve abstaining from food or water or a particular substance like oil or alcohol. The article ends by noting that religious leaders tend to agree that fasts are not meant to create undue hardship or life-threatening situations. Finding a deeply meaningful spiritual experience can come from other sources besides those that might put us at risk.
WALK IF YOU CAN
Most of us are aware that exercise is good for our bodies. I enjoy walking, but I've cut back because I'm still struggling with my bad right foot. I've written about it in the past; it hasn't gotten any better. That's why I swim.
I've also written about the Walk With a Doc program at McCain Mall in North Little Rock, which is sponsored locally by Arkansas Heart Hospital. For information about the program, go to WalkWithADoc.org.
I received an email from the program that contained a list of 100 reasons to walk. Most of us are probably aware of the overall health benefits, but there were a few ideas that I thought were worth sharing.
• Walking makes digestion more efficient.
Taking a walk about an hour or so after a meal helps move things through our system. Aerobic exercise helps stimulate the whole digestive system. According to the National Cancer Institute, people who exercise regularly have a 40 percent to 50 percent lower risk of colon cancer.
• Walking makes our skin healthier, because perspiration can help clean out our pores. Just make sure to follow up afterward with proper cleaning and skin care.
• Walking enhances our body image.
A University of Florida study found that the simple act of exercise -- before conditioning improves -- can convince us that we look better. The researchers found that exercise buffed up the way people see their bodies, regardless of the actual benefits.
The study showed that doing almost any type of exercise on a regular basis can help people feel better about their bodies. Even short, frequent, lower intensity exercise can improve a negative body image.
• Walking can stimulate us mentally.
Exercise cues the building blocks of learning in the brain. It affects mood, anxiety and attention, guards against stress and reverses some of the effects of aging in the brain. And in women it can help with the effects of hormonal changes.
I don't know about a lot of you ladies out there, but at age 51, hormonal is now my middle name.
Email me at:
rboggs@arkansasonline.com
ActiveStyle on 10/06/2014