Hike softly, carry walking stick. Those are two of the main maxims for the trail, whether or not you have diabetes.The latter is among the least observed. I just came back from three days of wilderness hiking in northern Colorado. In all that time I saw few people on the trails and a lot fewer even w...
Hiking, Exercise Important for Diabetic Regulation
8/11/07 11:56am
Hi David, I wonder if you know of any walking sticks that are made especially for people with bad hands? I have had 1 surgery on my right hand and 4 surgeries on my left with 1 more coming up and my cane I use now really hurts my hands even with a padded handle. Thanks Brenda
8/11/07 12:34pm
Dear Brenda,
That's terrible! I'm sorry but I do not know of any walking sticks made especially for people with bad hands. But have you tried out those walking sticks or trekking poles made by Leki and others that use a wrist strap? With the wrist strap much of the pressure goes to the wrist, relieving the pressure on the hands.
8/11/07 6:37pm
Hi David, No I haven't tried those walking sticks or treking poles but 2 of the surgeries were on my wrists. Oh and by the way I love the byetta too since I have lost 20lbs since starting it 10 weeks ago.I have had a little trouble with heartburn with it but taking prilosec OTC with it has helped alot. Thanks Brenda
8/11/07 4:25pm
9/ 3/07 9:42am
When using a walking stick with a wrist strap, how high should it be?
9/ 3/07 10:21am
Dear Bob,
The official answer is that the height should be where your forearms are level. Further, they say that you should therefore shorten the stick or sticks when you are walking uphill and lengthen them when you are walking downhill.
I never bother to make the adjustments for going up or down, because so few of the trails that I hike keep going up or down consistently for long. Other people whom I have talked with don't do that either. But it's certainly not a bad idea, if you have the patience for it.
My problem is my shoulder, and having the trekking poles set that way put too much pressure on my shoulders. After all, they are intended to put some pressure on them rather than on your legs. So when my massage therapist had the brilliant insight that my shoulder pains would go away if I shorted the trekking poles (about 3" each), the shoulder problem almost miraculously disappeared.
My recommendation for you, then, is to follow the standard, official advice, unless you have shoulder problems.
Good hiking!
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I too have taken to using a walking stick. Especially when out geocaching.
I feel strange if I get caught out hiking without my stick.
Thanks David!