Being an adult means accepting those situations where no action is possible.
-- John D. MacDonald, The Green Ripper
Have you ever had one of those days where you think being an adult is overrated?
I have. Recently. The responsibility that goes with adulthood can sometimes be overwhelming.
The last time that happened was a couple weeks ago when I went to pick up a refill of one of my diabetes medicines, Janumet. I have a co-pay card that made the cost only $5 a month, but then my insurance coverage changed in September. The pharmacy tech scanned the receipt stapled to the pharmacy bag and said, "That will be $209."
I asked her to double-check that and she did, but the end result was the same -- $209. All I could do was tell her I couldn't afford it, and I walked away feeling shell-shocked.
So, like the quote above says, no action was possible at that time. I had to take it like an adult and move on.
But I will take other actions. I felt as though that was a defining moment when I realized that it is on my shoulders to figure out how to treat my diabetes without that particular medicine.
I do have two other medications, but I am more determined now to be proactive in lowering my blood sugar, and hopefully to find more natural ways that don't include more medication.
A friend at work told me about a story she'd seen on the news about a University of California, Berkeley study that linked drinking grapefruit juice with the lowering of blood sugar and weight loss in mice.
I searched online and found an article about the study in the Newscenter section of the Berkeley website (berkeley.edu).
The study was published Oct. 8 in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE (plosone.org). The study found that mice fed a high-fat diet gained 18 percent less weight when they drank clarified, pulp-free grapefruit juice. They were compared to a control group of other mice that drank water. The juice-drinking mice also showed improved levels of glucose, insulin and a type of fat called triacylglycerol.
For years many of us have heard about the link between grapefruit juice and weight loss -- or decreased weight gain. But the earlier studies behind the claims were often small, not well-controlled and contradictory, according to Andreas Stahl and Joseph Napoli, the two Berkeley members who led the research.
I found it interesting that the study did not find as big an impact on the weight of mice that ate a low-fat diet. But their glucose and insulin levels showed the same level of improvement regardless of whether their diet was low or high in fat.
In the end, Stahl says that they really couldn't see conclusive evidence that could explain why or how grapefruit juice affects weight gain. But the researchers said they hope to continue the investigation.
It's an interesting study, and I may give grapefruit juice a whirl as a natural way to possibly lower my blood sugar. And maybe I can become less good at gaining weight, too.
CYCLING WHILE SITTING
I recently got the chance to try an interesting piece of exercise equipment named the DeskCycle. It was created by 3D Innovations, a company whose goal is "to develop compelling solutions to transform exercise from a dreaded chore to an experience that is both fun and challenging."
Some of their work is in software solutions, but they also developed several pedal exercisers.
The DeskCycle is made to use when working at a desk, but your desk has to be a certain height so you don't hit your knees against the bottom of it. I'm tall and my work desk is too short, so I took it home to try there. I decided I'd use the DeskCycle while watching TV in the evenings.
Overall it took about 30 minutes to unpack the parts and put it together. And that was time well spent. I have found the machine to be extremely quiet while I'm using it, so it doesn't interfere with the TV. One of my fears about using it at work was that it might be loud enough to bother my co-workers. It wouldn't, but I plan to keep it at home for use there.
There are eight tension settings, but they recommend starting out at 1, then working up to 8. And there's a display that shows time pedaled, distance in miles and calories burned. You can also use hand weights or resistance bands while cycling to add more to your workout.
Retail cost is about $160 and it's well worth the price. It is very sturdy, easy to use and portable. For more information, go to DeskCycle.com.
What are some of the benefits of aerobic exercise?
The Mayo Clinic website (mayoclinic.org) has a list that says aerobic exercise can:
• Keep excess pounds at bay.
• Ward off viral illness by activating the immune system.
• Help manage chronic conditions like diabetes and coronary artery disease.
• Increase stamina and reduce fatigue.
• Strengthen the heart so that it pumps blood more efficiently, which improves blood flow.
• Keep arteries clear by helping lower "bad" cholesterol and boosting "good" cholesterol.
• Boost mood by easing anxiety and promoting relaxation.
• Help the aging stay active and independent.
Email me at:
rboggs@arkansasonline.com
ActiveStyle on 10/20/2014