As far back as the 1930's, both mice and men were scientifically proven to outlive their well-fed peers. Albeit under drastic (and closely monitored) circumstances calorie-restricted diets had participants outliving their peers by as much as 40%. How does a diet verging on the brink of starvation extend a lifespan?

Researchers have found that persistent hunger promotes long life and identified a critical gene that specifically links calorie restriction (CR) to longevity. Genetic evidence has finally emerged in labs to explain the increased longevity in response to calorie restriction. This link was also identified between calorie restriction and aging. Of course this discovery immediately provoked the scientists to ponder the potential of the next generation of drugs to bestow the health benefits of calorie restriction without the discipline.

Fasting dates back as far as ancient Greek philosophers. Heck, even Mark Twain was a firm believer in fasting. In one of his essays he wrote, "A little starvation can really do more for the average sick man than can the best medicines and the best doctors. I do not mean a restricted diet; I mean total abstention from food for one or two days."

The work was funded by grants from the NIH, American Diabetes Association and the Ellison Medical Research Foundation. I graduated from Ward Melville High School with Brooke Ellison in 1996. It's fascinating to see my peers lending a hand in scientific research. Good for you, Brooke!

Diamyd showed promising results in slowing the attack on remaining islets in recently diagnosed type 1 diabetics. Diamyd is a therapy specifically designed to preserve residual beta cells in recently diagnosed type 1-diabetes.

The results from the Diamyd study demonstrated that the group of 35 recently diagnosed type 1-diabetes patients that received Diamyd produced approximately twice as much meal stimulated insulin, as measured by C-peptide levels. These results were present 15 months after the first treatment. Insulin and C-peptide are produced in equal amounts. As C-peptide is easier to measure, meal stimulated C-peptide levels is the most important parameter to follow in a type 1-diabetes study where the aim is to preserve beta cell function. C-peptide levels in both groups experienced a decline but the decline was significantly reduced in the Diamyd group. There were no significant differences in fasting C-peptide levels between the two groups.

There was no difference in HbA1c levels between the Diamyd group and the placebo group. This is consistent with type 1-diabetes patients striving to reach normal blood glucose levels through their standard insulin treatments. There was a tendency of increased GAD antibody levels in the Diamyd group, indicating that the drug candidate has an immunomodulating effect. Diamyd treated patients with disease duration of less than 3 months showed improved C-peptide levels at 15 months, whereas placebo treated patients showed a decline.

These results provide strong support that the administration of Diamyd is effective in preserving islet cell function in type 1-diabetes patients. Additionally, maintenance of endogenous insulin production is important as it helps patients to better control their disease and reduce long-term complications. There were no serious adverse events reported that were related to the Diamyd treatment.

The Wall Street Journal posted an interesting story about a man who needed a drug to treat his ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. He could not get the funding for a large scale trial to approve the drug. I empathize, completely! See that picture of the Hulk? That's me. I'm angry. You won't like me when I'm angry.

As a type 1 diabetic, my concern for improving the lives of people affected by diabetes involves preventing and reversing the complications associated with the disease. The American Diabetes Association states the same somewhere in their mission statement. Ok ADA, put MY money where YOUR 501(C)3 is!!

When I called the American Diabetes Association and shared my excitement for the C-peptide treatment in human trials (in Sweden) reversing type 1 diabetic complications - I was floored when I heard their response.

Allie B: Can the American Diabetes Association please encourage a big pharmaceutical company to sponsor these trials here in the United States? The results in Sweden have conclusively shown reversal of complications associated with type 1 diabetes.

Mat P at the American Diabetes Association: The topic of C-peptide is very sexy in scientific forums. BUT - we don't like to tell big pharmaceutical companies what to do with their money because we don't like them to tell us what to do with ours.

Allie B (in my head): WHAT THE F%^&*)(*&^%$F do you DO as an organization to improve the lives of people affected by diabetes if you are not going to push for trials to prevent and arrest complications associated with the disease?

I'm afraid the American Diabetes Association and I do not share the same goals any longer. It was a long marriage, over 21 years - but I want a divorce. The largest diabetic organization in the United States is not willing to assist in getting a trial underway to prevent and reverse complications that could affect 2 million type 1 diabetics and between 2 and 4 million type 2 diabetics injecting insulin (without C-Peptide).

I didn't feel this way until I realized how disconnected their perception of diabetes is from the reality of the disease. What do you think?

Any headline that features die is bound to grab your attention. The headline appeared in an article published by The Scotsman. What the title lacks in sensitivity it makes up for in reader feedback. Both, statistically eye-popping and universally alarming, I give you extracts from the article and a few passionate responses from readers. How does it make you feel?

Research from Edinburgh University reveals the number of people diagnosed with type-2 diabetes will soar by 60% within the next ten years. This is mainly due to the obesity crisis, with current estimates showing a quarter of the population is likely to be classed as obese by 2018. Doctors say they are treating an increasing number of teenagers for type-2 diabetes, which traditionally only develops in older people. Being overweight is a strong factor in becoming a type-2 diabetic, which can lead to complications of diabetes like blindness, amputations, cardiovascular disease and kidney failure. Diabetes and complications therein are estimated to costs the NHS nearly a tenth of its yearly budget. With future expectations of diagnosis -- the strain on the NHS will get worse. Andy Kerr, the health minister, admitted diabetes would prove to be a time bomb if the Executive's healthy eating initiatives failed. But he ruled out screening children for diabetes or rationing healthcare for people diagnosed with type-2 because of their unhealthy lifestyles.

And now for the comments:

Commenter #3 says I daresay the Scottish obesity/diabetes problems predates devolution.
Commenter #9 says, The statistical analysis regarding type 2 diabetes is flawed; the medical profession have been guilty in prescribing drugs and reissuing prescriptions for drugs that are only safe for short periods. One such drug has had its usage limited by the authorities within the past 3 years in Scotland and has only been reclassified in England and Wales in the past 6 months. This drug is now listed as causing type 2 diabetes, how many more are there out there? Hence the statistical analysis is being used to cover a grave error that is to be covered up.
Commenter #20 says, Perhaps we should take a closer look at why our kids are obese. They are marooned in the house for most their lives and when they actually do go out mum or dad are suckered into driving them everywhere. Tackle the fear which causes this situation and you are half way to solving the obesity problem of our youngsters.

All things considered, what if this headline was featured in the New York Times or more revealing - the 5 o'clock news? How would you react to it?

Based on what I read in the most recent JDRF newsletter, Mary Tyler Moore -- who has served in a leadership role at the JDRF for the past 20 years -- joined members of the National Institute of Health on Capitol Hill to raise awareness for the fight against diabetes.

Also, as part of the launch of NIH's new MedicinePlus Magazine, she graced the cover of the first issue and was also featured in an extensive article/interview. She recounts her more than forty years of living with type 1 diabetes, and her ongoing quest for public awareness through the JDRF.

This magazine is available for free in libraries and doctors' offices around the country, and can also be downloaded for free at the magazine's website: www.medlineplus.gov

Recently published data provides further support for a protocol to reverse type 1 diabetes in mice and new evidence that adult precursor cells from the spleen can contribute to the regeneration of beta cells. The new data from a study performed at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), provides additional confirmation of the ability to reverse type 1 diabetes and on the role of the spleen cells in islet regeneration.

In the study, a substance that suppresses the activity of the killer T cells that destroy islets in type 1 diabetes, was given to non-obese diabetic mice. They also introduced donor spleen cells to retrain the immune system not to attack islets. The results of this two-step process not only halted the immune destruction caused by diabetes but also allowed the insulin-producing pancreatic islet cells to regenerate. The results of this study indicate almost a 100% reversal of diabetes in mice that also had another autoimmune disease affecting the moisture-producing glands called Sjogren's syndrome. The study also demonstrates the spleen's contribution to regeneration of not only the pancreas but also the salivary glands. The data shows that the later the stage of diabetes when the treatment is given, the greater chance of spleen cells found to play a role in regeneration of islets.

"This data from the NIH and the earlier studies have added significantly to the understanding of how diabetes may be reversed," says Denise Faustman, MD, PhD, "It is still early, but it appears that there are multiple potential sources for regenerating islets. As a research community we should pursue all avenues. We're excited to see what will happen in humans."

Over 50 years ago medical technology introduced us to an artificial kidney. Since then, the movement has continued to yield a whole array of bio-artificial parts like: artificial blood, heart valves, replacement joints, and heart-lung machines. This begs the question, what's taking the artificial pancreas so long?

The U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is holding a hearing titled "The Potential of an Artificial Pancreas: Improving Care for People with Diabetes" on Wednesday September 27th. Testifying before the committee will be: Arnold Donald (JDRF President and CEO), Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health Acting Director), Chris Dudley (former NBA star and founder of The Dudley Foundation), and Caroline K. Sweeney accompanied by her son Aidan T. Sweeney.

The hearing was informative, statistically sobering and technically effective. The emotional outpouring Caroline Sweeney gave in her testimony emphasized the forbidding stresses diabetes can impose on a family. I can sympathize with Carolne and empathize with Aidan. This disease can be controlled with minimal emotional collateral. Hopefully the hearing will trigger someone with the wherewithal to assign the federal funding needed to eradicate another heartbreaking testimony like that of Caroline Sweeney.