We've long known about Type 1 diabetes. Most people know about Type 2 diabetes, too. But would you believe it's possible that a discovery may warrant a Type 3 diabetes? Researchers have discovered that the suppression of insulin signaling in the brain raises the possibility of a Type 3 diabetes.

Researchers have known for some time that insulin is not just produced in the pancreas, but also in the thymus. It is also known that insulin resistance, a characteristic of Type 2 diabetes, is tied to neurodegeneration. While scientists have suspected a link between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, this is the first study to provide evidence of that connection. The study identified a gene abnormality that blocks insulin signaling in the brain. A drop in insulin production in the thymus contributes to the degeneration of specific regions of the brain. These abnormalities do not correspond to Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, but reflect a different and more complex disease process that originates in the CNS (central nervous system). This raises the possibility of a Type 3 diabetes.

Those who suffered from Alzheimer's disease had a deficiency of growth factor in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is the part of the brain responsible for memory. The absence of these growth factors causes cells in other parts of the brain to die. Reserachers found that insulin was significantly reduced in the areas of the brain responsible for reasoning, planning, speech, movement, emotions, and problem solving. Researchers conclude that there is a genuine need for comprehensive study of the neuropathological changes associated with diabetes treatment and the affects of specific medications on insulin signaling. I agree with the researchers!

There is a man living in Springfield, MIssouri who developed diabetes because he took a commonly prescribed antibiotic, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday. The complaint against Bristol-Myers Squibb and Schering Corporation claims its antibiotic drug Tequin and its generic equivalent gatifloxacin may have significantly increased a patient's risk of developing diabetes or another blood-sugar disorder.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for Patrick Bills, who developed severe hyperglycemia and new onset diabetes while taking Tequin for a skin infection. The drug was also commonly prescribed for sinus, lung, and urinary tract infections, as well as other illnesses.

According to the complaint, filed in the U.S. Southern District Court in New York, the pharmaceutical company ignored mounting reports of diabetes-related problems until February 2006 when -- in conjunction with the FDA -- it added a warning to the label that diabetics should not take Tequin. However, the newly added warning label did not include any danger to non-diabetic patients, which the plaintiff was.

Psyllium is not exactly a "food" that fills us with joy when we think about it. We usually only think about it when we are constipated. But this soluble fiber has many health benefits: lowering bad cholesterol, aiding in controlling appetite and weight and helping to control diabetes in Type 2 diabetics.

In diabetes it reduces the post meal rise in blood sugar due to decreasing the glycemic response of foods.There have been studies that showed that lipids and glucose values improved with the use of psyllium. It is believed that fiber-depleted foods lead to higher glucose levels and stimulate excessive insulin secretion. Psyllium may act to break this cycle. It is easy to add psyllium to your diet, since it is a concentrated source of soluble fiber. Just 1/3 cup of cereal with psyllium provides 12 grams of fiber (almost half of our daily fiber needs). Be careful when adding fiber to your diet, though - add it slowly and drink plenty of water to prevent discomfort.

Other studies showed great results in a laboratory setting, but when people were monitored in the real world, there was no difference in the blood glucose levels of those who added psyllium to their diet.

I do not think that any food can be a miracle on its own. However, I think that if we add these foods that we know are good for us (and we know fiber is good for us), we can be healthier. Maybe it is as simple as that.

I am on a quest to lose weight and reduce my risk of Type 2 diabetes, which runs in my family. I know what I should be doing - eating right and exercising, and I am trying my best. I have one vice that I have found difficult in getting rid of, though. I drink a lot of juice and chocolate milk and the staff at Starbucks know my name.

I think the reason I do this is because it is easy to pretend that there are no consequences when drinking these beverages. Unfortunately, the drinks I listed above do have calories, and the really bad part is that they are mostly empty calories with loads of sugar.

A venti Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino contains 525 calories, as much as eight ounces of skim milk, half a cup of fruit, two slices of toast and two ounces of meat combined! It is also almost as much calories as a Big Mac at 560 calories. Apple juice can contain as much as 14 tsp of sugar and 1% chocolate milk (200ml) can contain 5 tsp of sugar.

I do not think that it is worth the calories and sugar content to keep drinking these beverages. Water, here I come!

Tick-tock, tick-tock. That's the sound of the so-called diabetes clock, and it apparently moves just a bit faster for women than it does for men.

Epidemiologists at the University of Buffalo have discovered that newly identified risk factors found in blood -- such as chronic sub-acute inflammation and evidence of endothelial dysfunction -- are present in women who eventually go from having normal blood sugar levels to pre-diabetic conditions. These markers, the researchers state, are generally not associated with that progression from normal to pre-diabetic status for men.

The U. Buffalo study is one of the first to show that otherwise healthy women are more likely than men to show elevated levels of endothelial factors and other indications of a progression towards pre-diabetes. It involved 1,455 healthy participants originally enrolled in a case-control investigation of patterns of alcohol consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease. Using this data, the researchers uncovered the pre-diabetes markers in women.

Scientists have mapped the genes responsible for causing type 2 diabetes. This new research is giving hope to new tests that can predict an individuals risk for developing the disease and future treatments.

The study compared the genetic make-up of 700 people with type 2 diabetes and a family history of the condition, with 700 diabetes-free people. Four points on the gene map linked to a person's diabetes risk and were confirmed with another group of 5,000 type 2 diabetics. The findings of this research could explain up to 70% of the genetics related to developing diabetes. A particular zinc transporter, known as SLC30A8, which regulates insulin secretion, was shown to have a mutation. Researchers feel they may be able to treat some cases of diabetes by correcting this mutation.

These findings will allow for the creation of a genetic test to predict people's risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as better treatments for the presiding cause of their diabetes. Nary a day passes that I am not motivated for the future of all diabetics. This is the type of research that strengthens my faith in the coming of a cure. Identify the nature of the problem and nip it in the bud.

"The First Year Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide For The Newly Diagnosed" is the first entry in publisher Marlowe & Co.'s "First Year" series, which seeks to set itself apart from other health advice lines with its authors all "patient-experts." Diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 1996, author Gretchen Becker quickly learned that there are many ways to approach diabetes care. She uses appropriate humor and presents basic information to take the reader through each day of the first week, each subsequent week of the first month, and the next 11 months after diagnosis. Emphasizing the self-management skills that all diabetics must master for adequate control of the disease, Becker addresses the questions not always anticipated or answered by healthcare providers. For instance, she covers necessary and optional tests, diet, drugs, weight and stress management, and the emotional strain of the disorder. Her sections on insurance and paying medical bills are excellent. Internet diabetes expert Rick Mendoza has also contributed a chapter on online resources. Other useful features include a glossary, reading list, and further resources. This excellent volume should inspire patients to prudently manage their disease.