In the past, I've blogged about an Australian experiment using implants that could, theoretically, eliminate the need for type 1 diabetics to use insulin shots. Researchers said it's possible to implant seaweed-coated capsules containing insulin-producing cells in the abdomen. The cells produce insulin, but the tiny pores in the seaweed do not allow immune system cells to pass through and destroy the cells. Allie has also looked at a related issue: experiments that surgically attach kelp-coated islets to the liver for the same purpose.

Sounds pretty brilliant. But could it really work? The verdict looks like "Yes." According to the results of a new Johns Hopkins University study, such implants could be helpful for type 1 diabetics whose bodies otherwise reject insulin transplants. The capsules utilized in the study were coated with a substance made from alginate, which is derived from seaweed. The technology could eventually be offered to diabetics whose bodies reject insulin cell transplants, something which could became standard treatment in the future. It would likely be a safer choice than the only other option known so far: anti-rejection drugs. Talk about the power of nature!

The results of the study have been published in Nature Medicine. Next step is a larger trial that will lead to seeking FDA approval for the technique.

I was intrigued by a recent Swedish study reporting that people on a so-called "Stone Age" diet had more stable blood sugar levels than those on a Mediterranean diet. An intriguing claim, because it's so often said that Mediterranean-style eating is super-healthful. Let's also admit it is a delicious way to eat: yes, pasta and bread is there, but it's balanced out by tons of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and olive oil. The Stone Age way is a bit more spare: we're talkin' meat, fish, and lots of whole grains, berries and nuts. Nary a sliver of Parmesan in sight.

However, the results of yet another study, this time from Australia, indicates Mediterranean-style eating is a good choice, especially for diabetics. Researchers from the University of Melbourne say Mediterranean-born immigrants in Australia are less likely to die from heart disease than other Australians. The researchers have concluded it's all down to dietary patterns. More than forty thousand people participated in the study over a period of ten years. The numbers revealed those who ate the most Mediterranean-style foods had a thirty percent lower risk of dying from heart disease. For diabetics, the researchers speculate, the benefits could be even higher, reducing the risk of death due to ischemic heart disease.

Results have been published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Visit Reuters for a discussion of the study.

Australian doctors have proposed that the nation introduce a junk food tax. They argue that such a tax would force people to eat more fruits and vegetables, thereby making a dent in the epidemic obesity levels now seen in Australia (as is also the case here in the US). The proposal appeared in the form of an editorial published in the latest Medical Journal of Australia. The doctors say that only direct government intervention can slow the obesity "juggernaut" that is fueling the rapid rise of all sorts of nasty health problems including - surprise! - diabetes. The editorial says that more than one million Australians are suffering from diabetes caused by obesity (Type 2 diabetes).

"Career suicide" is the term I think would spring to most politicians' minds at this suggestion. So it was not surprising to me when I read that the Australian government's response has been tepid. The Health Minister stated his belief that people are responsible for their own eating habits and that the government cannot and should not legislate on the issue. The minister also said the Australian government already spends millions of dollars a year on programs that encourage healthy lifestyles. However, others disagree. For example, the Health Minister for the state of Queensland remarked that it is hypocritical for governments to put restrictions on alcohol and tobacco, but not on junk foods. According to some estimates, junk foods cause at least as many health problems as do smoking and alcohol consumption.

An Australian company is making the rather ambitious claim that it has discovered a plant that could be used as a substitute for insulin. The plant is a vine that grows in the rainforests of the Pacific Islands. The chairman of Dia-B Tech, the biotechnology company behind the announcement, says that the vine has been used in traditional medicines for a long time.

Although it has not yet been used to treat diabetes, the company has reason to believe it will be effective and could be a "proxy" for insulin. The company also claims it could be better than insulin because it would not cause organ damage, as long-term use of insulin can do. Whether or not this discovery ever comes to anything for diabetics is the question. In any case, it's an intriguing and bold announcement!