Thomas Smith began reviewing scientific literature after conventional medicine failed him in controlling diabetes. Smith found research that shows dietary toxins impair cell membrane function. These toxins include trans fatty acids and refined sugars. Cells begin to have trouble absorbing nutrients, and the blood sugar rises. Over time, this results in chronic elevated blood and urine sugar levels. Sounds like a growing epidemic, doesn't it?

This damage to cell membranes, caused by a poor diet, can be repaired. The diabetic syndrome can be cured by eliminating all processed fats and oils. The protocol calls for supplementing high-dose Omega-3 fatty acids. This protocol normalizes blood sugars because the body is continuously repairing cell membranes by using the fats and oils available in the diet. One caution: the speed of recovery is related to the length of the illness. Some Type 2 diabetics may require up to one year for dramatic reductions in blood sugar.

A gaping hole exists between conventional medicine and diet. Conventional medicine claims that the cause of Type 2 diabetes is unknown. Medical doctors, as practitioners of conventional medicine, are not trained to explain how it happened. They treat symptoms with medicine. The business of medicine is medicine. The business of diabetes would be devasted if the cure was as simple as diet. The explanation Thomas Smith provides in his empirical studies is fascinating and I encourage anybody with competing or supporting evidence to open the debate.

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved Byetta as an add-on therapy to improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes who have not achieved adequate control on a thiazolidinedione, or TZD.

Byetta is already approved for treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes who are unsuccessful at controlling their blood sugar levels despite using the commonly prescribed oral medications or insulin. Byetta helps control blood glucose in four different ways. First, it signals your pancreas to make the right amount of insulin after you eat. It also stops your liver from making too much glucose when your body does not need it. It may reduce your appetite and the amount of food you eat. And it helps slow down how quickly food and glucose leave the stomach. It's no surprise that back in May, AMYLIN had to increase their production of Byetta, after realizing demand was outpacing the supply.

Byetta has given type 2 diabetics the reassurance they need to take their diabetes control to the next level. Taking your meds no longer has to come with the dubious consequence of a ravenous appetite. And with this new feather in the Byetta cap-the FDA says it does the trick to improve blood sugar control. The jury's out!