There's a story running on CNN Money about the progress of Oramed Pharmaceuticals' insulin capsule, which is currently under development. The capsule, taken orally, could provide a more convenient way for diabetics to get insulin than through shots. And popping a gel cap would, needless to say, also be more convenient than toting and blowing on one of those big old clunky Exubera inhalers.

In the quest to get its product to market, Oramed needs cash, and lots of it. Answering the call, a combination of private investors are putting up more than two million dollars in financing for the Israel-based company.

It's hoped the money will help to propel the insulin capsule through completion of Phase 1 (drug safety) trials by the middle of next year. Said Oramed CEO Nadav Kidron, "This investment marks a milestone for Oramed's stability, allowing the company to fully focus on its research and development efforts and complete its phase 1 product trials."

Stay tuned.

Feeling a little burned-out at work these days? Yeah, let's just say that line forms to left. It seems as though both men and women are working harder and longer than they ever have, and the resulting stress is clearly taking its toll. More specifically, it may actually have a direct effect on the development of type 2 diabetes in some people.

In the November/December issue of the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, researchers from Tel Aviv University in Israel report finding a possible link between job burnout and diabetes. Although the researchers are quick to point out that their study does not conclusively prove such a link (they further state that in order for such a definitive connection to me made, a much larger group of subjects must be studied), their findings are just the same worth considering.

To obtain their data, the researchers examined the lives of 677 Israeli workers over a 5-year span (nearly 77% of the workers were men with an average age of 43). The researchers found that over that 5-year period of time, 17 of the workers developed type 2 diabetes. In addition, they found that workers who experienced job burnout were 1.84 times more prone to developing diabetes, even when outside variables such as sex, age, and obesity were controlled for. To further rule out the possible effect of other outside factors, the researchers then looked at a smaller sample - 507 workers - and attempted to statistically remove the possible effect of blood pressure levels. The results showed an even greater relationship between diabetes and job burnout; with the burned-out workers being 4.32 times more likely to get type 2 diabetes.