The healing continues. From laughter, that is.

As we wait with great hope for a cure for diabetes, we do so with a smile thanks to humor to be found on the new website LOL Diabetes (www.loldiabetes.com). I've posted before about this site, which itself is part of the popular diabetes website Six Until Me (www.sixuntilme.com). Nevertheless, things have become waaaaaay to funny over there for me to not highlight some of my favorites.

These would be my Top 5:

5 - The Insulin Monkey. This picture features a stuffed animal, a monkey to be exact, with dozens of syringes sticking out of it, much like a pin cushion. The words "You're Doing it Wrong" that are printed on the picture sum it up perfectly.

4 - iPump. A play on the now famous iPod silhouette ads, this mock version of this campaign features people wearing insulin pumps in place of iPods.

3 - Thumbtacks. A photo of a child's Spider Man poster fastened to the wall with -- Thumb Tacks? No, no, no. Look again...those are lancets! As someone aptly commented on the entry, what a great use for all those extras!

2 - Wanted! In this Old West style Wanted poster, there's a bounty for bringing in Twinkie the Kid. Turns out "The Kid" is wanted for Shootin' Up High Blood Sugars.

1 - The Enemy. By far my favorite, Short, simple, and hilarious. The photo features no other than Willy Wonka himself, with the words "The Enemy" written below. Very true. And very funny.

There are a whole bunch more that could have made a Top 10 list (namely: Soundtrack to a Low, Is This the Remix?, My Pump Makes Me Look Like a Cross-Dresser, Ah! Needle Landslide, and What's Better Than a Cookie).

Be sure to check out LOL Diabetes. Think you have something funny to add? I say go for it!!

For a few months now, I've been offering fitness tips in what I'm calling the Exercise of the Week (very creative, I know) on TheCardioBlog. But, what occurred to me today is that you folks reading TheDiabetesBlog may be just as interested in learning some of these tips. Sure, I suppose you could very easily drop on by TheCardioBlog and read them over there, but that would be too easy. And, if your serious about losing weight and getting into better shape, let me be the first to tell you that nothing ever comes easy!!. So, on a going forward basis, I think I will also start posting these tips here on TheDiabetesBlog. With that, I offer the first installment of the Exercise of the Week.

Some of the best fat-burning and muscle-building exercises are those that combine several movements into one. The squat-press is probably one of the well known of said movements. And while you may very well want to add that exercise to your routine, I'm instead going to focus on a different multi-muscle movement: A Side Lunge with Upright Row. Although it doesn't have a fancy combo name like squat-press, the results can be just as impressive.

To perform this exercise, start by holding a dumbell in each hand with your palms facing in. Next, take a big step to the right side with your right foot. As you do, bend your right knee approximately 90 degrees and keep it in line with your toes. As you do this, try to keep your left leg as straight as you can. Now, this is where it really gets good and difficult -- as you lower your body to the side by bending your knee, lift your elbows until the dumbells are just below your chin. As you then press off from your foot and return your leg to the original position, slowly lower the dumbells. Continue by next going to the left leg, then back to the right, and so on and so forth. For a very good demonstration, click Here.

Compound movements of this kind are a great way to ignite your metabolism and jump-start your muscles. I'll be sure to show you a few more like it in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, feel the burn, baby!!

Note: The content presented in this post is for informational purposes only. Please consult your doctor or fitness professional before starting a physical fitness program.

Here's something that's bound to end up on LOL Diabetes (www.loldiabetes.com):

If you're having a low, they'll be there. If you're a child that wants to learn the difference between type1 and type 2 diabetes, they'll show you. And if you ever questioned whether the fight against Evil Blood Sugars was being fought, have no fear -- because Captain Glucose and Meter Boy are here!!!

In a series of soon-to-be-released educational DVDs, two well-known actors play the superhero duo who, by their own admission, don't really have any superpowers. Their self-proclaimed mission is to "Educate, Enlighten and Entertain people with diabetes of all ages." In addition to their forthcoming DVDs (which feature actor Alan Thicke as the Commissioner of Diabetes, no less), they also have a comic book in the works.

Man, this is such a cool idea (one that I'm definitely sorry I didn't think of!!). And, best of all, its a great way to give the public an accurate, realistic, and engaging look at diabetes. To check out their website -- which contains a short video segment -- go to: www.captainglucoseandmeterboy.com

Drug companies are very good at making it seem like taking a certain medication or supplement will be a panacea for just about everything that ails you. Even at the end of their commercials, when they're rattling off a whole host of possible unwanted side effects, the person on-screen is still smiling, riding or a horse, swinging on a swing in slow-motion, or something just as cheery. And while there are many amazing drugs out there that do help people a great deal, there are also many out there that are no more than snake oils.

Case in point, I just came across this supposed interview (it looks kind of staged to me) on YouTube, featuring a doctor who claims that type 2 and type 1 diabetes can be miraculously cured by drinking alkaline water. A bunch of B.S.? Honestly, I hope it's not! But, it probably is. So, instead of relying on miracle drugs and supplements, here are two very easy ways to address issues commonly faced by many people living with diabetes:

1 - Weight Loss. Very often, doctors will recommend that their patients with type 2 lose weight, hoping that this may lead to a lower A1C and improved overall health. So, instead of trying out Alli or any other popular weight loss drug on the market, try this little weight loss tip. Whenever you go out to dinner, eat a cup of broth-based soup (i.e. chicken, tomato) as an appetizer. New research into people's restaurant eating habits shows that people who consume a cup of soup as an appetizer tend to eat 20-percent less of their entree. The key is to stay away from cream soups of any kind, and to opt for a cup rather than a bowl. You may also want to add a little chili powder, especially since capsaicin, the compound found in chili pepper, has been shown in lab tests to actually kill fat cells.

2 - Lower Blood Pressure. People with diabetes must stay on top of their blood pressure, as an elevated level is rather common among those with both type 1 and type 2. While there are many trusted medications available to treat high blood pressure, you may also want to consider eating pistachio nuts. Penn State nutritionists discovered that eating one and a half ounces of pistachios daily for one month helped keep test subjects' blood pressure down. What's more, eating three ounces per day also showed signs of arterial relaxation, allowing better blood flow and making the heart's job that much easier.

Things can get a bit stuffy sometimes in the medical world. This is probably for good reason, because in many cases the topic of conversation is someone's health. To help create a less "buttoned-up" medical environment, many people have taken up writing their own personal blogs. Such sites offer a look at what it's really like to live with a particular condition, rather than pouring through page after page of text or internet site that focuses almost entirely on the science behind it all. This, of course, is not to say that there isn't great value in the latter -- especially since that's primarily the type of blog we run here at TheDiabetesBlog. But, let's face it, sometimes you just need to take a step back from it all and laugh.

To that end, you may want to check out a new site called LOL Diabetes (www.loldiabetes.com). The site itself is an offshoot of the popular diabetes blog Six Until Me (www.sixuntilme.com). Following the design of the odd, but hugely popular, humor website that features cats and other small animals doing funny things, LOL Diabetes (LOL stands for Laugh(ing) Out Loud, by the way. Just in case you were new to...well, civilization) features photos, videos and stories that are two things: 1) Related in some way to diabetes, and 2) Funny!!

After viewing the site, don't be surprised if you feel compelled to submit a funny diabetes tidbit of your own. I'm even sort of tempted myself. If you choose to follow suit, you can go ahead and send your own humorous photo, video, or whatever to loldiabetes@yahoo.com Feel free to say that I referred you...it may get your stuff up on the site quicker ;)

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed reauthorization bill (HR 3162), legislation which includes a one-year extension of the Type 1 Diabetes Special Funding Program at the National Institutes of Health and the Indian Health Service.

The American Diabetes Association describes the inclusion of these programs and passage of the bill as a great first step toward the goal of a five-year extension and a nominal increase in funding to grow these vital programs.

From 1998 until next year, the special type 1 funding program will have provided $1.14 billion in research funds to support type 1 diabetes research. The House action is a step toward extending that funding beyond next year.

Beginning today, advocates across the country will be meeting with their Congressional representatives in an effort to push legislators to approve funding for type 1 diabetes research.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Promise to Remember Me Campaign kicks off at 11 a.m. on the Cannon House Office Building Terrace in Washington, DC. Congressman Eric Cantor, R-Virginia, will join recording artist and American Idol finalist Elliott Yamin at the event. Yamin, who has type 1 diabetes, is set to perform at 5 p.m.

As part of the campaign, the JDRF invites participants to share their story of living with diabetes with legislators and encourage them to vote for type 1 diabetes research. The effort aims to join hundreds of families with legislators in the next 10 months to discuss funding for type 1 diabetes research; Yamin is the campaign's celebrity spokesperson.

Cantor is a sponsor of HR 2762, a bill that would reauthorize the Special Diabetes Program, which coordinates the efforts of research scientists to find a cure for juvenile diabetes.

My family is no stranger to severe hypoglycemic episodes. With four type 1 diabetics living busy, active lives, serious low blood sugars have resulted in pleading cries to "please drink the o.j., now!" ... to emergency glucagon kits, calls to 911, even a cast for broken bones. Whether or not consciousness was lost, episodes of severe hypoglycemia rattle the family cage. It is scary to witness your loved one out of control both physically and mentally. Beyond mental confusion, severe hypoglycemia can even trigger seizures or coma.

A study published this month in Diabetes Care reveals type 1 diabetics who smoke have a 2.6-fold increase in severe hypoglycemic episodes. The study examined 537 participants enrolled in the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy. Experts hypothesize smoking's effect on the regulation of hormones and insulin can result in severe hypoglycemia. Whatever the case, smoking and diabetes are not a good mix, they are a molatov cocktail when it comes to your health. Smoking is associated with increased risk for diabetic retinal defects, nerve damage and impaired-kidney function.

I am downright angry my family has to deal with severe low blood sugars, especially the hypoglycemic unawareness brand. Read more on the study in Reuters.

A recent study done on mice gives a possible explanation for the increase in diabetes worldwide. In my post on June 14, I mentioned this study on the effects of plastic on insulin resistance. The researchers found that an ingredient in plastic, that mimics the effects of estrogen, can lead to insulin resistance in mice.

The study states this ingredient of plastic, bisphenol-A, is widely used in a variety of settings and that humans are exposed to this harmful ingredient on a regular basis. The fact that this leads to insulin resistance is scary. It is very frightening to think that exposure to everyday substances can lead to illnesses. Oh, wait! Exposure to harmful substances lead to illnesses every day. We are so used to hearing about these things that this is not truly scary, just mildly interesting.

It is up to us to be vigilant about what we put in our bodies and what we are exposed to. What makes this study interesting, is that bisphenol-A is found in such a wide array of products, which we can not completely avoid. It would be interesting to see further studies on this, as it is not conclusive, but I certainly will be more aware about my exposure to plastic.

You know diabetes is entering the mainstream when you see a tv ad hawking designer blood glucose meters. I'm not much of an impulse shopper, but these little buggers are sharp!

LifeScan, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Company, now offers their OneTouch(R) UltraMini(TM) blood glucose meter in four bold colors -- Silver Moon, Limelight, Pink Glow and Black. The sleek body is small enough to slip into your pocket or purse, with easy to read results in just five seconds. The meter uses OneTouch(R) Ultra(R) test strips. LifeScan's website claims the strips are covered at the lowest co-pay by more health plans than any other strip. Not bad.

Americans eat up designer gear. Diabetes is on the rise. I predict a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) with a blood glucose meter seamlessly snapped in back. Patent that.

Out of the nearly three million people in the United States with type 1 diabetes, less than 300,000 are utilizing an insulin pump. That's roughly 10%.

Diabetes Health wants to know why more type 1 diabetics are not on the insulin pump. They are currently collecting data via an on-line survey. Please give them your feedback. Diabetes Health promises a forthcoming article summarizing attitudes and general feedback garnered on the subject.

My older brother was one of those 300,000 insulin pumpers. But he has returned to needles. Watch for future post where he will explain how the pump gave him the best blood sugar control of his life, but a frightening side effect prompted him to set aside the pump forever.

Whey Low is made of natural sugars like sucrose, fructose and lactose - not artificial ingredients. So it's unlikely your grandmother or your little brother will taste the difference. Even better is the fact that it should have substantially less impact on your blood sugar, for it barely reaches 25 on the glycemic index, whereas table sugar is a whopping 100.

This unique blend of all natural sugars is the ideal sugar replacement to control after-meal blood sugars, a definite concern for type 1, as well as type 2 diabetics. Use of Whey Low reduces insulin requirement, which eases stress on the beta cells (in type 2) and exogenous insulin requirements (in type 1). Whey Low also helps strengthen the immune system. The unabsorbed sugars of Whey Low, combined with starch, stimulate growth of healthful gut bacteria known as the prebiotic effect. This healthful gut bacteria has been shown in recent literature to stimulate the immune system.

Whey Low was developed by Lee R. Zehner. When his wife was diagnosed with diabetes in 1999 he wanted to come up with something that would allow her to continue her love for baking, without sacrificing control of her blood sugars. Whether you're whipping up frosting, baking cookies or searching for a new diabetes friendly coffee sweetener - Whey Low gives you an opportunity to indulge in your delights with significantly less impact on your sugars. Thanks to That's Fit for leading me on to this remarkable culinary crutch!

A synthetic hormone currently being used by diabetics may also help in the fight against obesity. Amylin is a hormone that contributes to glycemic control. It has been shown to promote satiety and inhibit secretion of glucagon during hyperglycemia, thereby reducing the total insulin demand. Synthetic amlin (brand name Simlyn) was recently approved for use by type 1 adult diabetics in conjunction with insulin.

Rigel Gregg wrote a post on our sister blog That's Fit about the recent study done on this drug. Rigel thinks it may be too good to be true, but I hope that it might be something that works. The participants in the study who received the injections before meals lost 4.5 pounds, while the participants receiving the placebo maintained their weight.

It is exciting to think that something that is now helping type 1 diabetics might also help prevent type 2 diabetics. People struggling with their weight know that losing even just a little bit can be very motivating and we know that losing just ten percent of your weight when you are overweight can have tremendous benefits. I am all for something that might help in our fight against obesity. In the meantime, we will keep watching what we eat and exercising. Sometimes old-fashioned methods work too.

My family has type 1 diabetes, but when it comes to overnight hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), the similarity ends there. My mom's blood sugar level drops about 100 mg/dl overnight, so she makes sure her blood glucose level is around 180 mg/dl before hitting the pillow. My brother's blood sugar level never drops overnight; in fact, it oddly begins a steady rise upon awakening. Go figure. My dad has had many bouts with nighttime hypoglycemia and he often eats his favorite diabetic snack bar formulated to prevent a serious drop.

If there is one thing I have learned, diabetes is a complex disease and no diabetic is alike.

Diabetic snack bars is a growing market, with some designed to prevent hypoglycemia and others to reduce hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Here is an article highlighting recommendations from diabetes specialists, along with a short list of products.

Snack bars with uncooked cornstarch (UCS), a slowly absorbed complex carbohydrate, aim to prevent hypoglycemia as the carbs act as a steady source of glucose. They are a good fit for diabetics on intensive insulin therapy with good control (more susceptible to hypoglycemia); as a bedtime snack; to avoid low blood glucose after consuming alcohol; or for those with hypoglycemia unawareness. Check out ExtendBar. My internet search uncovered Gluc-O-Bar and Nite Bites are no longer available.

Gerri Weiss's husband, Michael, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 22 years ago. Thanks to feedback from the Weiss family and other experts, WebMD offers the following ways spouses can help their partners with diabetes. Here are six tips along with a short recap of each one:

Tip No. 1: Offer Help, but Don't Be the Diabetes Police: Gerri had to learn that Michael owns his disease, and it was his decision whether or not to share the numbers flashing from his glucose monitor. Gerri and Michael struck a balance by agreeing he would always share if his blood sugars were "ok" or "not ok", without handing over a detailed printout of his daily blood sugar swings. Gerri learned to nag less and rely on Michael to take care of himself.

Tip No. 2: Adopt Healthy Habits for the Whole Household: The Weiss family ate healthier as a unit, thanks to Michael's stricter diet regimen. Bring diabetic cookbooks into the kitchen or learn how to prepare healthier versions of your favorite meals. Keep junk food out of the house.

Tip No. 3: Help Make Time for Exercise: Exercise regularly with your spouse and you can both benefit. Or offer your spouse assistance in daily errands or other duties to yield a window of time for them to exercise.