One of the hardest things about growing older is adjusting to the new ways our bodies work. A friend of ours who’s a real athlete – he plays ice hockey in the winter – was complaining about how he can’t get the puck out of corners anymore and he blamed his increasing arthritis. His wife laughed and told him it wasn’t the arthritis, it’s because he’s now in his 50s!
At least our athletic friend has a somewhat lesser problem to manage that our brother-in-law. A few months back he was diagnosed with the form of diabetes called Type 2, which often affects older people. It means that his body has become resistant to the effects of insulin, which regulates blood sugar. Consequently he’s had to start taking extra insulin to compensate for this change, and things aren’t going very well with getting the dosage accurate. He read recently that some patients with Type 2 diabetes have begun to take a supplement made from an extract of the agaricus brazil mushroom. It seems this extract has the ability to increase the body’s acceptance of insulin when taken along with it, so that the dosage can be stabilized.
Reports are that when combined with other diabetes prescriptions, the extract from this fungus help decrease the body’s resistance to insulin. Our friend is concerned, though, because he’s heard that sometimes this supplement can cause blood sugar to go too low. That must be why nutritionists and herbalists suggest people only take the supplement for 12 weeks at most.
Lots of people seem to find help for aching joints by taking kirkland glucosamine. This supplement reportedly builds up cartilage tissue and the lubricating fluid around joints. More support for this cushioning helps the joints work better. The supplement also apparently boosts the body’s production of new cartilage as the old cartilage wears away.
Our sister-in-law has trouble with osteoarthritis in her hands. It’s very frustrating for her to have her hands achy and swollen because of her hobby. Whenever the arthritis in her hands flares up, she tries a new round of arthritis remedies, looking for relief. She crochets all kinds of lovely baby blankets and little caps for newborns. A local charity gives her creations, and those of many other generous women, to the public hospital where many low-income mothers have their babies.
She’s found some help with one combined painkiller/anti-inflammatory medicine that she can get over the counter, but like our friend with diabetes, she worries about possible side effects.
As far as we’re concerned, we’ve been convinced by the many scientific studies of recent years that growing older can be managed better if we keep our minds active. Maybe we’re just playful kids at heart, but we feel good about playing board and video games and working on number puzzles and crosswords. Physically we might be able to keep up with gardening or walk the dog daily, but that’s quite an accomplishment for former ‘couch potatoes’ like us!
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