Big News, Getting Bigger

36% of all purchases at Walgreen's are diabetes-related. 

Diabetes now costs Americans $132 billion per year.  2,700 people are now diagnosed with diabetes per day.

In unrelated, breaking scandal news, a radio-preacher-dude smokes a pipe.  I'm shocked and disturbed, because I could never keep one lit.

Comments

[TheBob]

This actually makes me feel kind of good.

Walgreens is where I go to get my Jolt Cola. You know, the energy drink before energy drinks existed? The one whose sole pitch is that it has ridiculous, unhealthy amounts of caffeine (and now, taurine, guarana, ginseng, and vitamin B complex)?

Others go to Walgreens to make themselves healthier...

Just trying to balance it out. :-)

[Fay(ola)]

Sobering stats in that story. 1.3 million in Florida w/ 2.5 million at high risk? Sheesh.

[Seth Ward]

I used to eat my chicken like that. On a large white bed with the soft tunes of Barry White playing.

[Monica Battaile]

That's great!

You know, I used to smoke. I tried smoking a pipe once, but I, too, could never keep it lit. I started dipping to quit smoking. My husband was none too pleased. It took me years to quit that, and I had to sneak around doing it.

There. A nasty little secret about me.

One of my favorite church stories involves smoking. We had one Sunday where two of our college seniors who had just returned from their summer missionary trips were invited to talk. One of them had gone to one of Denver's inner-city churches to work. He said they were helping - and I quote - "all of the sinners, like prostitutes and smokers."

I turned to my friend, a smoker at the time, and said, "Well I guess you're going to Hell."

Apparently it is not polite to say such a thing and then snicker about it in church. I got many nasty looks.

Now, seriously, where did the good-looking fried chicken come from?!?!?!!

[M.E.]

I have no interest in getting involved in a diatribe over this topic, but I will say this. It is estimated that 33-35% of Americans have a faulty gene that leaves them unable to detect the difference between hunger and thirst. If you find yourself reaching for food far more often than for a glass of water or another beverage, it's likely you have this genetic defect. I believe there is a direct corrolation between obesity and dehydration for many people. As someone who has fought and largely lost the battle against extra pounds nearly all of my 52 years, I am trying to retrain myself to reach for a glass of water BEFORE I go rifling through the fridge for a piece of cheese.

Also, I would suggest that people check the contents of their food and try to elliminate high fructose corn syrup from their diet. High fructose corn syrup is especially problematic because unlike real sugar it's been processed to the point the human body does not even need to digest it in order for cells to absorb it. If real sugar is bad, high fructose corn syrup is Enemy #1, facilitating not only weight gain, and Type 2 Diabetes, but also associated with high triglycerides. As unAmerican as it may sound, leaving Coke and Pepsi on the grocery shelf might be the first place to start, but check your hot dogs and all processed snack food too. If you simply can't live without your can of Coke, check with your grocer to see when kosher versions of these drinks are available, (usually around Passover), and stock up. Sugar is considered kosher while high fructose corn syrup is not.

[Cherie]

Do "diabetes-related" purchases include soda, candy bars, and ho-ho's (my personal favorite)?

[Seth Ward]

Agree with M.E.

High Fructose is plain evil.

I lost 20 pounds 8 years ago when I quit drinking 5 Mountain Dews a day. (Between practice breaks at the conservatory.)

Didn't know that about dehydration. Good to know. Will keep that in mind. Thanks! Where I get confused is in discerning the difference between "real sugar" (the stuff that takes a million years to dissolve in your tea) and good ole white sugar, and which one makes you fatter. Anyone?

Ironically, you can lose quite a bit of weight picking up the smoking habit. Not only does it make you poo, it is an appetite suppressant.

And, it is at least as good for you as the fructose wieners or the Ho Ho.

[Wolfgang Amadeus]

But the smoking habit destroys your lungs..totally!

ME is right. Its hard to do- I know.. and due to my health- I need to do a Medeterrainian diet-which is hard to do too!

Last night- I did it however- and the Lamb was sensational- as was the Kalamata olives, the Spinich Saled/Feta Cheese and the dressing- which was some kind of Greek concoction that I cannot recall the name too- but it was yummy..with some Greek Rustic Bread..

Anyone ever try the "No Knead Bread" Recipe from the NY Times?

It is a very Rustic bread--and yummy. You make it in a Dutch oven- and you don't need to Knead it.

Now- I must go find something for dinner...

Cheers!
Wolfgang Amadeus