Ed Hinerman, a life insurance specialist with the Hinerman Group, was posed an interesting challenge recently. For years he has successfully found affordable life insurance for many adults with type 1 diabetes, but he had never been asked about life insurance for children with Type 1 diabetes until now.

After speaking with underwriters in the top 40 or so companies, he found a discernible lack of interest due to lack of data. Companies would say that they couldn't consider someone with type 1 diabetes until they were either age 15 or age 20. A peer in the industry told Ed the knee jerk reaction was because insurance companies haven't done mortality studies on children. They simply don't have any data upon which to base the pricing for products. Uh oh!! That coupled with the fact that there really isn't any financial incentive for them to study and create products for a relatively small market that would produce relatively low premium, kind of sets the tone. Well, now the war has been defined and the battles are becoming clearer.

When Ed contacted the ADA for assistance in this matter - hold your breath (it's a shocker!) - they turned a cold shoulder on a diabetic's need. What if the diabetic's parents were doing what so many families do - and trying to buy a whole life policy to help pay for their kids college someday? It's really not fair! Here's where fair begins -- Ed asked me to gather some facts it will take to get the insurance companies attention. Does anybody have any idea of the mortality rate of children after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes?

Bottom line. Life insurance companies make big money and for them to cut and run from children just because it might not make them more big bucks, or because they really haven't done their homework and aren't interested in doing it, isn't acceptable. Game on! I hope we can make a good showing, at the very least - hit one out of the park for the fans. Thanks for inviting me to play, Ed!

I contacted Novo Nordisk back in March to tell them about the remarkable effects C-peptide had on reversing complications of Type 1 diabetes. I asked if they would bring the drug to market. A mass of excitement overwhelmed me when I learned about C-peptide missing from insulin all these years. The response from Novo? No thanks, it's not one of our targets. Targets, eh?

C-peptide is a byproduct of the production of insulin. In Type 1 diabetics, the level of C-peptide eventually becomes undetectable due to the body not making any insulin of its own. Long-term complications of diabetes frequently develop despite insulin therapy and optimal blood glucose control. C-peptide could quite possibly be the missing link in perfect diabetes control. I sent the following document to Novo Nordisk and asked them to make C-peptide available to reverse and ameliorate renal and nerve dysfunction for Type 1 diabetics. Read the document and see for yourself the eye-popping beneficial results C-peptide offers Type 1 diabetics. I received it directly from Dr. Wahren, lead researcher for C-peptide.

After 5 months consideration, Novo called me back. They said C-peptide is not a target for their company. I understand and now Levemir is not a target in my diabetes control, either. For all the Type 1 diabetics out there controlling your sugars with insulin not really made with you in mind -- do you understand why Novo does not wish to develop this critically important treatment? I guess insulin is good enough, right? Wrong. It's a tough job but somebody's got to do it. Just not Novo. When you are in the business of diabusiness -- no thank you says so much about what could potentially hurt your business.

Juan Domínguez-Bendala, Ph.D., is Director of Stem Cell Development for Translational Research at the Diabetes Research Institute. Once again, thanks to Gina and Jon at Diabetes Talkfest - you'll have the opportunity to chat live with Dr. Domínguez-Bendala on August 23rd at 9pm Eastern Standard Time.

Dr. Domínguez-Bendala is currently involved in several projects that focus on the use of embryonic stem cells to obtain pancreatic islets, in the hopes that these newly developed cells could one day be transplanted into patients with type I diabetes.

Join Dr. Domínguez-Bendala to discuss his work and ask questions pertaining to embryonic stem cell research. I know I'll be there, in true form, asking questions that I've been archiving for an event like this one!

The results are looking good for the first-round of human testing for Oral-lyn, Generex's flagship product. The oral insulin, delivered into the body through the oral cavity (with no deposit in the lungs), is as effective as injected insulin.

The efficacy of Oral-lyn for controlling blood sugar was decidedly as good as multiple insulin injections. The research found that regular insulin and Generex Oral-lyn had similar effects on lowering blood sugar in subjects with type 1 diabetes. The subjects received twice-daily insulin analogue for basal coverage. So this might rewind some of us old timers to the days long-gone where we could get by with two shots. Period. If Oral-lyn makes it to the local pharmacies - maybe mealtime corrections could be easy to swallow. Praise patient compliance!

On an even more impressive note - it looks like the mucosal membrane in the lungs is giving Exubera negative challenges to overcome. Perhaps Oral-lyn will come out looking a little more pristine in this capacity, since it doesn't go anywhere near the lung membranes. I'm not in favor of diabusiness - but for crying out loud - I'd like to see some companies start working for their money. Generex is one of those companies with the Big Idea!

TuDiabetes.com is a site for people touched by diabetes. The creator of the site, Manny Hernandez, got the ball rolling on a topic of interest we all take to heart - diabetes book recommendations.

When you ask diabetics to brainstorm on a terribly intrinsic topic you get some pretty good responses. One suggested read was The Diabetes Improvement Program. This book helped a diabetic overcome depression, when the talented team of healthcare professionals could not. Other honorable mentions include: Psyching Out Diabetes, Dr. Bernstein's' Diabetes Solution, Diabesity, and Diabetes for Dummies.

Somebody actually asked something very interesting - where is the book on the evolution of diabetes treatment? Often a topic of discussion, and yet so rarely documented is the sequential events of diabetes treatment, starting with the discovery of insulin. A lull ensued from about 1930 till the boom of genetically modified human insulin, in the early 80s. Any investigative journalist willing to take a stab at it? I guarantee the book will make my must read. And Eli Lilly might actually pay you not to write it.

P.S. One reader pointed out - a chapter of Brent Hoadley's book, Too Profitable to Cure presented a chronology of the evolution of diabetes treatment.

Eli Lilly has an award they give to people who have been diabetic for 25, 50 and 75 years. They call it the Lilly for Life Award. The award recognizes people who have been enslaved to the exorbitant expenses of diabetes management, in addition to the other schedules of daily life. Endearing isn't it? The award is a significant token of Lilly's appreciation for all you have endured and sacrificed.

Lilly awards people who have used insulin for 25 years with the monetary equivalent of what your diabetes management has cost. All your copays for each bottle of insulin, each box of syringes, each blood sugar testing strip, and your ability to adapt to the ever-changing technology of diabetes care (I swear, it says that in block letters) - Lilly awards you $42,500!! I told you I lived in the land of milk and honey. ACTUALLY - it's a medal and a consent form to have your face exploited in Big Pharma marketing. You should've bought the stock! The shareholders of LLY paid approximately $1.75 per share 25 years ago, when you were diagnosed. Today that share is worth approximately $56. Anybody know the math on that return? It's probably around 3,000%.

Let's go back to that statement ever-changing technology of diabetes care. Why must it be ever-changing? Doesn't that sound a lot like never-ending? We need not spend too much time on identifying how to treat this disease when we've got that down. What we need to do is spend more time and energy on preventing the disease from happening in the first place. That is what I consider achievement. Achieve that, Lilly! And by the way - I'll take 3,000% of my $42,500 while you're at it. Thanks.

Meet the Face of Change is a photo exhibit owned by Novo Nordisk featuring YOU -- the face of change. Change for what, I asked? Well, it seems Novo would like to change your opinion of the barriers to insulin treatment for Type 2 diabetics. The common belief of insulin treatment for Type 2 diabetes is that it is the point of no return. Why? First instincts are usually correct.

Studies have shown that Type 2 diabetics injecting insulin create insulin antibodies (IAA). Type 1 diabetics have these antibodies upon diagnosis. Type 1 diabetes was also formerly referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes. Insulin antibodies (IAA) develop and attack the natural insulin produced, resulting in insulin dependence. Type 2 diabetics do not have the same level of IAA. Once they begin injecting insulin that looks like human insulin (the kind Novo makes) - you run the risk of developing IAA. The use of animal-insulins did not cause the development of IAA to the same extent. If you plan to start injecting insulin - ask your doctor if he will check you for IAA. As a Type 2 diabetic, you DO NOT have to become an insulin-dependent diabetic.

I asked Novo to explain what Meet the Face of Change is about. What are they trying to change? The response I received from Nov explains their wishes to strengthen the drive of their business, among other core values. Now I ask you - how do you drive a business that sells insulin? Sell more insulin. For the 16 million Type 2s not yet in this lineup- please consider if insulin-dependent diabetes is the face you want to meet. Don't add insulin to injury. It may not be the path of least resistance, but cut back on simple sugars, increase fiber consumption, and take a walk after dinner. Meet the face of change by putting your best foot forward, not your face on a campaign for vulture capitalism.

Diabetes is making a name for itself and it's spreading like wildfire. Politicians are uniting to build a $120 million campaign to educate diabetics to prevent the spread of the disease and its complications.

Senator Clinton criticizes the reaction to the problem, rather than taking measures to prevent it from occurring. She questions why current money is unquestionably $pent on treating complications from diabetes -- such as amputations and dialysis. Good point, Senator. Ask Bush if he's got any friends up at Eli Lilly. A good answer can always be found in a temporary restraining order. She and fellow politicians propose more money be spent on programs for weight-loss, nutrition education and other preventive efforts to best curtail the growing number of diabetics in the United States.

The legislation proposed would provide $90 million to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Diabetes Translation for diabetes surveillance, research and educational activities. It would also allot $30 million for three four-year projects that would examine how best to translate diet and exercise interventions into effective clinical practice.

After living with diabetes for over 50 years, and witnessing few changes in the treatment of the disease, Brent Hoadley has written Too Profitable to Cure.

Distressed that the cure is no closer now than when he was diagnosed, at the age of 14 -- Hoadley took it upon himself to find answers. He notes the current state of healthcare for those who suffer from chronic diseases, and contends that profit, not humanitarianism, is driving American healthcare. As an entrepreneur and an investor, he is aware, and appreciates the profit motive that drives capitalism. However, he feels the bottom line should not interfere with the pursuit of a cure. With pragmatic drive, he identifies culprits and urges activism as a countermeasure.

Diabetes is only one shining example of the pharmaceutical industry's criminal pursuit of profits. Patients' health, patients' lives, patients' freedom-all are fair game in the quest for limitless wealth and unbridled power.

The question of evening news and print advertisement for pharmaceuticals is posed. Is this marketing speaking to doctor's in lieu of doctor's reading unbiased research? Or does this research derive from the very company making the pill? Hoadley reveals pharmaceutical sales reps now supply more education to physicians than they obtained in medical school. In other words, Big Pharma has climbed to the top of the totem pole; medical professionals stubbornly cling to their subordinate position; and the poor patient (pun intended) supports the entire structure. Do I need to tell you that the support is vulnerable and under attack? Whether it can remain viable is, or should be, a question of great concern.

Too Profitable to Cure is available online through Hoadley's site. Scott Strumello had turned me on to Brent Hoadley after he posted an Open Letter to Eli Lilly and one of the comments left was from Mr. Hoadley, himself. Definitely worth checking out! Thank you to Scott for the great find and to Brent Hoadley for putting it into words for us!

If you read a warning label on your insulin that said - may decrease the amount of insulin you produce - would you think twice about injecting?

Any foreign matter that enters the body can stimulate antibody production. Foreign insulin, especially genetically modified human insulin (GM insulin), is no exception to the rule. More importantly, in relation to its increasingly exclusive dominance in the USA [since 1983], are the types of antibodies created by GM insulin. They could be similar to the types of antibodies that cause type 1 diabetes - also known as insulin-dependent diabetes.

Insulin auto-antibodies (IA-A) and c-peptide measurements can help you tell if your injected GM insulin is stimulating 'anti-your-own-body' cells. This response is often referred to as an auto-immune or inflammatory disease. This is because IA-A can trigger inflammation and an attack by specific immune system cells. For example IA-A can attract a targeted attack on your beta bells (the cells naturally producing your own insulin and c-peptide) by exciting your seek and destroy cells (aka the the IA-A militia).

Research has found that GM insulin can stimulate approximately 60% more IA-A than porcine (pig) insulin. Also because GM insulin is more identical to human insulin, than porcine insulin, GM IA-A are probably more efficient than porcine IA-A, at duplicating the effects of natural human I-IA. Type 1 or type 2 diabetes can be considered an inflammatory disease when the beta cells become an inflamed 'war zone' resulting from IA-A helping to target natural insulin at its production site.

If you are a type 2 diabetic injecting GM insulin - please strongly encourage your doctor to continue measuring your c-peptide level regularly (and make sure you find out what your c-peptide is before you start injecting!). Once your c-peptide level begins dropping to normal or low - suggest pumping the brakes on your GM insulin regimen. Research suggests that prevalence of IA-A is related to duration of insulin therapy, so BEWARE, you could be headed toward GM insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes

"Cure. Care. Commitment. These are the words we live by at the American Diabetes Association."

Blah, blah, blah......Those are the words you will hear when you call the ADA hotline and tell them their indifference and apathetic resolve to push for C-peptide trials is atrocious. (If you choose to do so, of course -- details to follow.)

After I blogged yesterday about the ADA colossal let-down -- I neglected to tell you how we can lend guidance to the ADA mission. It is apparent they do not know how to make good use of their 501(c)3 for the sake of cure, care and commitment to diabetes. No worries, ADA - millions of diabetics are here to help you understand our needs.

Contact the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES and tell them:

ALLIE BEATTY of The Diabetes Blog told us that you were NOT going to encourage your big pharmaceutical sponsors to start clinical trials for C-peptide. We need this to prevent and reverse complications from the disease...

From there the floor is yours to proceed. Their hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 8 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Please call and tell them you want C-peptide. When labs began making insulin they didn't make it with C-peptide. You want it! You deserve it! But most importantly -- you need it!