Health Coach Q & A
What links should I know about?
Lark is here to help!
Lark Customer Support!
https://support.lark.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
Facebook page for DPP
https://www.facebook.com/groups/larkdpp
Lark blog
Lark recipes
https://www.lark.com/resource-type/recipe
Email a Lark coach with questions or to make an appointment
Is a glucose monitor helpful?
That’s a great question! We think a lot about blood sugar levels in the Diabetes Prevention Program! A glucose monitor can provide interesting and possibly useful information, but it is not a standard device for the majority of people with prediabetes.
Here are some possible benefits of a glucose monitor.
- It can help you see how different foods, including different types of carbohydrates, may affect your blood sugar levels. This can guide healthier food choices. For example, you may notice that having a whole grain may increase blood sugar less than having the same size portion of a refined grain. Or, you may notice that a larger portion of grains may increase blood sugar more. In these cases, you may decide to have more whole grains compared to refined grains, and to serve smaller portions.
- It can help you see how physical activity affects blood sugar. You may, for example, notice lower blood sugar after breaking up sitting time throughout the day with light activity like standing up or marching in place, compared to higher blood sugar if you don’t break up sitting time. Or, you may find that longer walks, or more intense activities like stair climbing, lead to lower blood sugar.
- It can motivate you and hold you accountable. The immediate feedback of how your diet and exercise choices affect your blood sugar can inspire healthier choices to keep your numbers in check. It can also feel more personal than having a healthcare provider or other source give you recommendations when you see how actual choices affect your own blood sugar.
Here are some reasons why you should only consider blood glucose monitors with caution.
- It’s not a standard requirement for people with prediabetes. Most doctors don’t prescribe it, and Lark’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) focuses on preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes through weight loss, physical activity, and healthy lifestyle choices.
- If you’re using a glucose monitor on your own without a doctor’s supervision, it can be easy to misinterpret results.
- Glucose monitors can be a hassle, leading to burnout following your diabetes prevention program. It may be more impactful to focus on lifestyle changes like weight loss and activity.
- Glucose monitoring can be expensive if not covered by insurance, including the cost of the monitor plus testing supplies like strips.
If you're thinking about using a glucose monitor, try talking to your healthcare provider for guidelines on whether you should use one, which one may be best for you, and how to get the most benefits from it.
What are your thoughts about parasite cleansing?
That’s a great question, and definitely relevant to today’s webinar on recognizing and avoiding fad diets!
A parasite cleanse is not supported by scientific evidence. A parasite cleanse is a concept that comes from the idea that harmful parasites live on many people without detection. The theory continues that these parasites cause symptoms like lethargy, digestive discomfort, trouble losing weight, or skin conditions. The “cleanse” may include special diets, herbal or other dietary or nutritional supplements, laxatives, or other products.
There’s no scientific evidence that these vaguely defined parasites exist and cause such symptoms in people. In fact, these cleanses can be harmful. Here are some risks.
- Products involved in the cleanse may interact with medications or cause dehydration or electrolyte imbalances.
- Longer term, unbalanced diets may be nutritionally inadequate.
- Parasite cleanses can take focus away from more scientifically proven methods to improve energy levels, weight loss, and digestive health, like eating well, staying physically active, and getting plenty of sleep.
To be clear, a true parasitic infection is a medically significant condition, if you think you have a parasitic infection, it’s important to be diagnosed by a doctor. Parasites are specific medical conditions, such as infections with giardia, tapeworms, or pinworms) that require treatments, usually via prescription and with medical supervision.
What about walking in grass due to knee pain?
That’s a great question! It is wonderful that you are exploring ways to stay active while managing knee pain and avoiding any damage or further damage to your knees. Staying active can help lower blood sugar and risk for diabetes, while improving quality of life.
Here are some potential benefits of walking in grass.
- It’s softer than walking on a sidewalk or other paved surface. This can reduce shock to the knee joint and help cushion it, preventing pain.
- It’s a more varied surface than a flat paved path, leading to increased muscle engagement. You’ll have a better chance of developing supportive muscles around your ankles, knees, and hips. Over time, you may be better able to support your knee and prevent further pain.
Here are some potential risks and considerations.
- Grass may be uneven and have hidden holes, dips, roots, and rocks. You may trip or jar your knee or ankle, leading to injury. Your risk of falling or losing balance is greater if you have knee weakness or pain that is leading you to be extra cautious.
- Grass can be slippery when wet, and it can even hide slippery mud spots. This can lead to a risk for falling.
- Uneven terrain can lead to muscle strain and pain for the knee.
You’re best off talking to your doctor about the best ways to get active with knee pain. For some people, walking on grass can help. For others, walking on grass or pavement may be best combined with cycling or other low-impact activities. Your doctor or an exercise specialist can provide personalized recommendations for you.