What do you see when you picture THE CURE? The proverbial cure has always been a pill or a shot - just once. Problem solved. Well, if you look at the long list of Type 2 diabetics who have already been cured - it seems a cure will only come one way: the hard way!

Google sent me to this page posted by the Alternative Cancer Treatment Centers. The information first explains where Type 2 diabetes derives: a derangement in essential fatty acids. Specifically and statistically speaking - the fact that we consume twice as many Omega 6s as Omega 3s. The Omega 6s have become the main building blocks of the fats in our diets and therefore the fat in our bodies. This seems to be a triggering event for the rising incidences of obesity, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes.

So now what? Okay, the page details about 44 things one must do, and continue to do for however long it takes to cure you. Don't read too much into my cynicism. I'm all about the Udo's and dosing up on the Omega 3s over 6s but when the supplement list gets longer than my Christmas List from 1988 - something's got to give! Now does anybody out there have a Type 2 Cure story to share? This is your chance - tell the world your secret to success!

Ever wonder what would happen to a non-diabetic's blood sugar if they loaded up on a pile of concentrated sugar, preservatives and weird science fats? Doctors and the ADA call it prediabetes. This clip takes it to the extreme by sandwiching the center of 16 double stuff Oreos! Sometimes you have to be insanely blunt to make your point.

This is a brilliant example of the diabetes epidemic in action. In today's world -- many people are eating for convenience without realizing the consequences. More convenient equates to less nutritious - more preservatives, more sugar and even more fattening (the wrong fats, too!) The combination increases the amount of time our digestive enzymes need to work on these lab-derived ingredients. This sustains an elevated blood sugar following the time of consumption. Add the ADA definition of pre-diabetes (a blood sugar between 140 to 199 mg/dl 2 hours after a meal) and there you have it -- a potential player on Team Diabetes!

Think what would happen if this guy was in his doctor's office 2 hours after this stunt. I'd like to thank his employer for keeping him busy (whatever he's paid to do) well after the lunch hour - and protecting him from becoming another statistic. Big ups to HR for hiring this guy!! If he's not in marketing already -- you might consider a transfer and give this guy a raise. He's my Oreo hero.

Nutraceutical refers to foods claimed to have a medicinal effect on human health. The American Diabetes Association says individuals at risk of developing diabetes can make changes in their diet and increse their level of physical activity to reduce their risk. The following mentions a few foods and supplements that are your friends in the fight against diabetes.

You've probably heard a million times the benefit of soluble fiber. It lends a big helping hand by slowing carbohydrate absorption. Easy sources of soluble fiber include: oat bran, nuts, barley, flax seed, fruits like oranges and apples, and vegetables like carrots. Another nutritional gem is coffee! Well, more specifically chlorogenic acid, the antioxidant found in coffee. It slows the release of glucose into the bloodstream after a meal. Caffeine counteracts this effect, so diabetics are better off drinking decaf. Barley malt has similar blood glucose lowering effects as metformin, without the side effects. Some say barley malt is to beer as grapes are to wine. Barley malt extract (available in powder and liquid forms) is also used medicinally as a bulking agent to promote bowel regularity.

Other honorable mentions include: magnesium, chromium piccolinate, conjugated linoleic acid, bitter melon and our beloved cinnamon. Nutraceuticals would likely have substantial diabetes-preventive efficacy, and presumably could be marketed legally as aids to good glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.

Researchers found that the type of body fat an individual has -- - white and brown-- may explain why one person gains weight easier than another.

White fat is the more familiar form of fat that accumulates in the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks. Brown fat burns energy and generates heat. White fat is deposited around internal organs and as visceral fat - the most harmful form of abdominal fat. Brown fat contains small lipid droplets tucked behind tiny energy factories called mitochondria. These cells are most prevalent in cute, little chubby babies, but tend to mostly disappear by adulthood. A 2005 Joslin study discovered genes that control the creation of the precursor cells that give rise to brown fat cells. This latest study shows that brown fat may not disappear in all adult animals and that little collections of brown fat may account for why some mice are protected from obesity and diabetes and others are not.

This study compared the difference in fat metabolism between the B6 mouse and the 129 mouse. The B6 mouse is one of the most commonly used strains in metabolic research and an established model for diet-induced obesity. When placed on a high-fat diet, the B6 mouse develops severe obesity, high blood glucose and insulin resistance with extremely high insulin levels. By contrast, the 129 mouse gains 30% to 50% less weight than the B6 mouse and is resistant to dietary induced obesity and glucose intolerance.

The only difference between the B6 and 129 mice is the type of body fat. The B6 mice had a majority of white fat cells, whereas the 129 mice had over 100 times the number of brown fat cells than the B6 mice. The mice with more white fat cells had a tendency to gain weight and develop diabetes on a high-fat diet. The study showed that the 129 mice had higher basal energy expenditure than the B6 mouse, resulting in a mitigated response to dietary effects. So I guess this begs the question -- how does one turn white fat into brown fat?

Raw For 30 Days is a true life story of five type 2 diabetics who undergo a radical diet and lifestyle change with the hope of reversing or reducing their insulin dependence. The documentary follows each person through their experience of detoxification, discovery, and redefining their lives. The film begins by introducing you to each individual, in their indigenous environment: where they live, how they eat, their normal work routine, and their stories about developing and living with diabetes.

The detox begins in the Arizona desert, at the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center. The program consists of a 100% raw organic living foods that are purported to heal diabetes. The diabetics will be coached in their eating, mental health and exercise habits. The exercise training includes yoga and breathing. The mental health workshops focus on positive thinking. This is intended to help clear emotional and mental blocks and encourage personal freedom. The name of this process is worthy of patent protection. It's called the Zero Point Process.

During the course of their stay, they are recorded in a regular video diary. The participants talk about the medical, physical, and emotional changes they are experiencing as a result of the new diet and environment. The outcome of this documentary should be sobering for most of us. The American diet is supposedly the culprit for many of our ailments. Diabetes is profoundly influenced by our diets. Raw For 30 days will engage you with the remarkable truth of how dietary changes can and do shape our overall health. Take 9 minutes to view the promotional trailer online and tell me what you think.