PSA and then a personal update at the bottom, hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend.
So here’s an interesting study on blood sugar (glucose) levels and COVID outcomes. Finding:
We conclude that elevation in glucose levels can facilitate the progression of the disease through multiple mechanisms and can explain much of the differences in disease severity seen across the population.
Super good news, if it holds up to further scrutiny, because getting your blood sugar down is much more realistic than “try not to be old or fat.” (And yes, I know that there are medications and health conditions that can wreak havoc with your blood glucose levels, no matter how perfectly-perfect you do all the things. So no lab-shaming if that’s you. I get it.)
Three (paid) programs I’m aware of, not endorsing any of them so do your own due diligence, that can provide long term coaching and support if you’re not one of those people who has magically managed to follow some guy on the internet’s advice on how to crack the cocoon and emerge svelte-n-sporty:
The Fasting Method – Basically like that Winnie the Pooh episode where Pooh gets stuck trying to leave Rabbit’s hole, except with science and you working with your doctor to make sure you don’t drop dead from the various things that can go wrong when you’re not eating. Also hopefully you aren’t stuck in a hole in the woods while you do it. Can work with any dietary preferences / needs whatsoever.
Virta Health – Low carb, no fasting, and your coach works with you to find a way to do low carb even though you have _________ dietary restrictions, preferences, etc. Includes direct telemedicine appointments.
Low Carb Program – a UK option. NHS has been far more proactive in shifting towards low-carb diets for treating type 2 diabetes than US public health folks have been. Their research page has some encouraging info if you’re wondering if it is possible for you to improve your situation.
I’m sure there are many others, those are three that happened to come to my attention. Things to look for in scouting out tools and support for figuring out what will work for you for lowering your blood glucose levels into a healthy range:
- People who actually understand medicine. Seriously, if your health is already so-so, you don’t want to run crazy experiments on yourself based on what some random guy who got a book deal has to say.
- People who understand your health problem. If your situation is less-common, you might be able to get some help from a generic type 2 diabetes program, but you’ll definitely want to work with a health care team that also understands (as much as it is possible to understand) the things that make you different from the average bear.
- Something you can sustain. That’s why I mention the paid support programs (again: NOT endorsing any of these, though to my knowledge they are reputable or I wouldn’t mention them). If you’ve struggled in the past, and/or you don’t have support at home, it may be worth the time and money to seek professional assistance from someone who has experience, a track record of success with patients like you, and legit medical credentials.
- Something that works with your mental health needs. Your big picture is probably a little more complicated than just what your lab work shows, or else you would have solved your problem years ago.
Anyway, of all the COVID questions and practicalities, this bit of news is very good. It looks like COVID is with us indefinitely, so the sooner you get going on improving your general health as much as you can, the better you’ll fare. No magic cures, and in the long-long-run you still need a strategy for enjoying a healthy, happy eternity, but in the meantime being less-sick is generally much nicer.
Related: Darwin looks at the data on vaccine effectiveness.
***
Personal update on me, since I saw this weekend that someone was wondering: Still averaging about a C- in the living-life department, but with good things happening. Nothing worrisome afoot. Am confusing IRL people mightily with my erratic ability to be higher-functioning. It’s fine. Very grateful for y’all who have stuck with me, online or in-person, with your prayers and patience and kindness despite getting very little in return. No one can say I lack good friends.
Photo of the end of a rainbow on a hillside covered in pine trees, courtesy of Wikimedia, CC 2.5. I just liked it.
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