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!

Researchers found that offering seniors with diabetes the opportunity to participate in a subsidized community-based exercise program may help lower health care costs.

The researchers analyzed 163 seniors with diabetes who participated in a community-based fitness program that was fully subsidized by the HMO. For comparison, the study also included 364 seniors who did not participate in the fitness program. After 12 months, the researchers found that total health care costs did not differ among the two groups of seniors. However, among those in the HMO subsidized exercise group, those who attended more exercises classes per week than the rest of the group had health care costs roughly 41% less than the average of the group.

The study found that health care costs can be greatly reduced among a previously sedentary older adult who engages in moderate physical activity three days a week or more. One in five Medicare recipients has diabetes. That's a pretty significant number. Diabetes-related health care costs account for about a third of total Medicare expenses. Exercise can reduce health care costs and increase physical functioning. Any amount of physical activity is beneficial for everyone and it is even more so for people with diabetes, regardless of the effects on health care costs. What's the going rate for well-being these days, anyway?

Imagine a place you can visit to connect with a friend living with diabetes, another family affected by diabetes, and a diabetic educator to learn ways to improve the quality of life with diabetes. Does such a place exist? Thanks to Children with DIABETS, it does!

If you are looking for a conference experience in a vacation setting, look no further. For several years, Children with DIABETES has hosted a litany of conferences to educate and entertain the diabetic community. Friends for Life is the annual conference, where over 2,000 Children with DIABETES folks come together to learn about the latest diabetes products, participate in giveaways, attend seminars and enjoy one anothers company.

The Children with DIABETS site has long been a leading resource to promote understanding of the care and treatment of diabetes, especially in children. Check out the upcoming events to see if Children with DIABETES has what you need to enjoy your next vacation. Thanks again to Jeff and everybody at Children with DIABETES for doing such a great job!

Wal-Mart Stores planned to offer generic prescription medicines at $ 4 for a 30-day supply, regardless of insurance. This was slated as a test run, in Tampa, FL, before taking the program nationwide, sometime next year. The reduced price represents a 67 percent savings over the normal retail price of the drugs.

By cutting the cost of many generic drugs to $ 4, Wal-Mart hopes to ensure that customers and associates get the medicines they need at a price they can afford. "That's a real solution for our nation's working families," says H. Lee Scott, Wal-Mart president and chief executive officer. Wal-Mart designed this program to dramatically change the way health care is provided in this country. The numbers don't lie: generic medications cost an average of nearly $30 and the average brand-name fix runs about $100. With resounding interest in the concept, Wal-Mart decided to roll out its $4 generic prescription program in Florida beginning Friday, October 6, 2006 -- nearly four months earlier than expected.

Two of my favorite things in symphony: Wal-Mart and Florida. Wal-Mart is my guilty pleasure. I'll spend hours browsing the isles and the faces. I love Florida. Really, I do. No state tax, great highways, warm winters, Disney. And now this! By the way, you know how they say imitation is the highest form of flattery? Well, Target plans to match Wal-Mart's $4 drug program. I guess everybody will have to jump on the generic drug rollback bandwagon.

I live in Florida. This morning I woke up to a big story on the front page of the local paper about the arrival of hurricane season 2006 and the need for citizens to be prepared. Wow, Hurricane Season 2006, you got here so soon. Seems appropriate to blog about something hurricane related...

A few days ago I blogged a post about a foundation now based in Baton Rouge, LA, that is working hard to provide assistance to diabetics, many of whom were affected by Hurricane Katrina. I remarked that there seem to be few stories in the media lately about diabetics and Katrina. Looks like I spoke too soon, because here's another one: Mississippi's Sun Herald reports that the show dLife is honoring KC Arnold, a Mississippi nurse practitioner, for her contribution towards helping diabetics in the wake of Katrina. Arnold has been named one of dLife's "Top 10 Making a Difference in Diabetes."

After Katrina hit coastal Mississippi back in August 2005, Arnold set up a temporary health clinic in a church. She has gone on to open her own practice, the Diabetes Center.