Scarborough Research, the leading local market research firm for identifying consumer and retail behaviors in the United States, took the liberty of compiling a list of the top local markets selling diabetic medications in the last 12 months. A dubious distinction it may be, these locations burn like a flame for the moths of diabetes product resellers.

Knoxville, TN, Memphis, TN, and Columbus, OH round out the top 3 local markets for diabetes medication purchasers. The Scarborough analysis also finds that Walgreens is the number one national drug store brand among diabetes medication purchasers. More than 3.1 million, or 18%, of these consumers purchased prescription drugs at Walgreens during the past year. CVS (17%), Wal-Mart (16%), Rite Aid (8%), and Eckerd Drug (4%) complete the top national drug store brands among diabetes medication purchasers.

In Charleston, Wal-Mart is the top store among diabetes medication purchasers, as over one-quarter (27%) of these consumers purchased prescription drugs there during the past year. Rite-Aid (20%), CVS (14%), Fruth Pharmacy (8%), and Kroger (5%) are other leading stores among diabetes medication purchasers.

What increases bone density, promotes digestive health, helps keep kids healthy, and benefits the management of diabetes? Here's a hint, it sounds like the lifeblood treatment for type 1 diabetes - insulin - but the name of this goodie is inulin. Inulin in foods provides both bulk and sweetness without causing a rise in glucose levels.

Inulin is a natural dietary fiber found in over 35,000 common foods like artichokes, asparagus, onions, garlic, raisins and bananas. As an undigested fiber, it has no effect on blood glucose levels. It has a zero Glycemic Index. You could easily find it in your grocer's refrigerated section in Stonyfield Farm yogurts. Their version of inulin comes from chicory roots. Amazing all the places this ingredient naturally derives!

It is used increasingly in foods, because it has excellent nutritional and functional characteristics. Inulin can be used to replace sugar, fat, and flour. For the masses concerned with nutrition-labels, it contains one-third to one-fourth the food energy of sugar or other carbohydrates and one-sixth to one-ninth the food energy of fat. I'm curious to see what it tastes like, aren't you? From ignorant experience (uninformed of the artificial sweeteners used) I enjoy Stonyfield yogurts. I'll have to try another brand name with inulin on for size. Breaking news!! I just checked the ingredients in my newest dopamine-boosting fix: Trader Joe's low-glycemic dark chocolate. Golly gee-- sure enough inulin is on the list. I'm so in love with this dark chocolate because it really has such an insignificant affect on my blood sugar. Ultimate kudos to Ramsey, the creator of Miracle Muffins, for this sweet trinket of knowledge on artificial sweeteners!!

Wouldn't it be cool if you could have a slice of pizza without the guilt? Find yourself a Blue Moon pizza box and you're halfway home.

With diabetes growing among the U.S. population and many more challenged with other dietary and health problems, Blue Moon Culinary Concepts fills a void for consumers and grocers alike. With the introduction of Blue Moon Carb Concepts Pizza, people could still indulge in their favorite food while maintaining a low-carb lifestyle.

The Turkey Pepperoni Pizza has a thin crispy crust topped with zesty tomato sauce, fat-free mozzarella cheese and turkey pepperoni. Okay, I have my suspicions with fat-free cheese and turkey products where we all know pork belongs. But at the end of your meal, if your arteries aren't shutting down - wouldn't the Blue Moon experience be worth a pie tasting? And another incentive (which is where I came across the Blue Moon site, in the first place) is the fact that the American Diabetes Association recognizes Blue Moon Culinary Concepts for helping to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

Blue Moon Culinary Concepts Pizza is available in Kroger Supermarkets Nationwide, King Soopers, Fry's, Smith's Food & Drug and Dillon's. They are tenaciously expanding into grocery chains all across the states. If you don't see Blue Moon Culinary Concepts in your local grocer, it wouldn't hurt to ask.