Menopause means the end of estrogen production in women. One of the changes resulting from that loss is a rise in blood sugar. Other undesirable side-effects include a tendency to overweight and high blood pressure (hypertension). That news comes courtesy of a new study conducted on female rats.

The lead researcher for the study was Dr. Lourdes A. Fortepiani of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. According to Dr. Fortepiani, simulating menopause in rats caused a thirty-five percent rise in blood sugar levels. Other changes included significantly higher blood pressure and weight gain at double the normal rate.

Yikes! Is that what we ladies have to look forward to?? This is certainly something to keep in mind if you have diabetes. But wait. There is a silver lining. Estrogen replacement therapy erases all these nasty hormonal and metabolic side effects, says Dr. F. Could this mean that hormone replacement therapy, which has lately fallen really, really out of favor, might be making a comeback?

Tai Chi for Diabetes is easy to learn, effective and safe. It is designed to prevent and improve control of diabetes. The program will help to improve muscle strength, increase heart and lung activity, as well as improve balance and harmonize mind and body.

Gentle exercise helps people with diabetes by improving the control of blood glucose level. Tai chi is a gentle exercise with strong emphasis on mental relaxation, it is reasonable to assume tai chi can help to control diabetes by improving cellular uptake and glucose metabolism. Tai chi can also help mitigate the effects of stress, which is shown to make the control of diabetes worse. Tai chi reduces stress and improves relaxation.

The major problems of diabetes are complications such as hypertension, heart disease, visual impairment and vascular problem. Diabetes causes peripheral neuropathy, a condition that the nerves of feet are damaged thus affects balance and walking. Tai chi has been proven to be effective in improving balance and mobility.

The immense power of the mind has not been fully estimated. As one of the most effective mind-body exercise, Tai Chi teaches the student to be mindful of the intrinsic energy from which he or she can perceive greater self-control and empowerment. The mental training in Tai Chi will enhance clarity of the mind, improve relaxation and uplift mood.

The Tai Chi for Diabetes DVD costs $25. It includes 90 minutes of a general introduction of Tai Chi and diabetes, warm up and cooling down exercises, Qigong for Diabetes, 11 basic movements and 8 advanced movements. Viewers can learn different part at their own pace using the easy-to-learn and step-by-step instructions. If you prefer a less expensive option, you can order the Tai Chi for Diabetes Handbook for $10 or you can subscribe to the newsletter for free. Your budget, your decision.

Below I've included some feedback from people who have firsthand knowledge of Tai Chi for Diabetes. Here's what they have to say:

"I use your video a lot to perfect my technique, to check accuracy of movements, listen to instructions and recall various Tai Chi principles." Jana Solovka, Vic. Australia

"I have been practicing Tai Chi for over 20 years, and I have found no one that compares with Dr Lam - your presentation and expertise are what make the difference." Ted Stark, OR, USA

"The other day I was at the library and saw your video on the shelf... I was impressed with your presentation and the ease of following along. It is clearly one of the best Tai Chi instructional videos I have seen." Allan J. Glazer, DPM USA

Remember the A-Game suggestions I dangled for Eli Lilly to tap for performance enhancement? Well here it comes. I called Eli Lilly headquarters to speak with the Chairman and CEO, Mr. Sidney Taurel but I was directed to their idea submission form (which consequently didn't work). Oh boy, Sid. I'm a little disappointed. So here goes - my idea is going free for all when you could've had it, first. Let's call this new and improved product Beta Juice. It delivers the essential functions of a fully operational beta cell. It produces: insulin, amylin and c-peptide. Here's why insulin should always come equipped with the other two...

Insulin brings sugar to the cells to keep our energy levels sufficient for life, homeostasis and (if we're lucky) some energy for the gym. Amylin is a controlling agent for appetite, gastric emptying and tells the liver to dispatch glucose. It is also shown to have an impact on lipolysis --- the metabolism of stored fat. Until recently C-peptide was nothing more than a number used to decipher if you were a type 1 or a type 2 diabetic. However, recent scientific studies have shown C-peptide protects small vessels from the complications associated with diabetes. The Reuters Health article is titled C-Peptide Replacement Improves Early Diabetic Neuropathy.

The American Diabetes Association promotes the ABC's of Diabetes Care in an effort to educate diabetics on controlling their disease. The ABC's of diabetes care refer to a patient's Hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol. A diabetic must maintain a hemoglobin A1c less than 7%, their blood pressure must remain below 130/80 and their good and bad cholesterol must be kept in range. The ABCs of Diabetes Care were established in order to reduces the chances of developing diabetic complications like neuropathy (nerve damage), nephropathy (kidney damage) and retinopathy (eye damage).

Here comes the perfect Insulin (code name Beta Juice) -a laboratory engineered balance of insulin, amylin, and C-peptide. Insulin to balance the blood sugar level, amylin to regulate fat and cholesterol levels and C-peptide to control the damage inflicted upon the micro vessels throughout the body. This is a GREAT IDEA!! Not just because it is MY idea, but because this is a huge opportunity to mitigate the complications that insulin by itself can impose, without the checks and balances of the other beta cell hormones. What do you say, Eli Lilly? You're halfway there!! You've already partnered with Amylin Pharmaceuticals. They have one third of this patent pie. Now hop on the horn and join forces with the C-peptide patent holder and ride your stock price to the moon. The diabetic girl has spoken. I know you care, Eli Lilly. Now put your money where your mouth is and make this new and improved insulin a light at the end of the diabetes tunnel.

Who knew that all it took was removing the vagus nerve to prevent or reverse the development of insulin resistance. Wait -- what the hell is the vagus nerve? Turns out that it is a rather important nerve communicates with with just about everything in your body. It's truly no wonder that the terms 'vagus' itself is derived from the Latin word meaning "wanderer." And, thanks to researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, it has been found to play a very important role in preventing both diabetes and hypertension.

The scientists published their findings in the February issue of the journal Cell Metabolism, first pointing to a nuclear receptor they had previously highlighted called PPAR-Alpha (Ppara). This receptor had been shown to be necessary for the induction of both hypertension and diabetes when lab mice were treated with steroids. Considering that steroids are commonly prescribed for people who ave asthma, arthritis, and organ transplants, it has been suggested that this treatment has lead to insulin resistance and, in some cases, result in diabetes.

However, in the research team's most recent study, they found that both the Ppara and the vagus nerve play a significant role in the development of diabetes and hypertension. It appears as though by removing the vagus nerve, the risk of developing these disorders in response to steroid treatment, even if they have Ppara.

While the research on the interruption of nerve signals to the liver has only been performed on mice thus far, scientists are hopeful that their results will also hold true for humans.

According to scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, interrupting nerve signals to the liver can prevent diabetes and hypertension in mice.

Mice were treated to become diabetic with glucocorticoids, a class of steroid hormones characterized by an ability to bind with the cortisol receptor. Once diabetes was established, the researchers surgically removed the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the only nerve that starts in the brainstem and extends all the way down to the abdomen. More impressive is the fact that once the nerve was removed from the diabetic mice, insulin resistance and high blood pressure was prevented or reversed. This is an interesting discovery because people with asthma, arthritis, and organ transplants often rely on steroid treatments. It just so happens that many of them go on to develop insulin resistance.

Don't go ripping your vagus nerve out just yet. A fun fact about the vagus nerve is that it's name is taken from the Latin word meaning "wanderer". The vagal nerve pathway can influence seizures, depression and other disorders. Although the research is thoroughly enlightening, it is still very green. Hang on to your vagus nerve while the research continues.

Insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, hypertension, high triglycerides, low HDL (good) cholesterol levels: a cluster of traits typically referred to as Metabolic Syndrome. All are known to be indicators of diabetes and heart disease in adults. What has recently been discovered, however, is that these same traits are also on the rise in adolescents.

Based on a study conducted at Penn State's Center for Childhood Obesity Research, it has become clear that Metabolic Syndrome is now on the rise in people of younger age. In this study, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, Metabolic Syndrome risk was assessed in 154 white, non-Hispanic 13-year-old girls and their parents. The results suggested that those individuals who demonstrated traits typically associated with Metabolic Syndrome also had a greater increase in fat mass between the ages of 5 and 13 when compared against the individuals who did not exhibit these traits

A possible cause for the disparity was also considered -- based on further research into these individuals' eating behaviors. It turned out that the group at higher risk had consumed a great deal more sugary beverages between the ages of 5 to 13 than did the group that did not exhibit signs of risk.

University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers found that yogurt enriched with fruit or made from soy could play an important dietary role for people living with Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Scientists screened extracts from a sampling of dairy and soy yogurts for properties that could help stabilize diabetes and hypertension. The fruit-enriched yogurts, especially those made with blueberries or made from soy, may curb some aspects of diabetes. The findings provide a strong rationale for further clinical studies, and for incorporating "healthy diet design" into disease management strategies.

The research shows that certain plant compounds affect enzymes targeted by diabetes drugs, notably alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. The research also investigated foods' effect on angiotensin converting enzyme or ACE inhibitors, medicines used to fight high blood pressure. The study used peach, strawberry, blueberry and plain yogurt made by four different producers, including a soy brand. Tests showed that soy blueberry yogurt strongly affected all three of the enzymes. Peach and strawberry yogurt also affected alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. The researchers tested the yogurt varieties for antioxidants and plant compounds called phenols. Phenols and polyphenols give red wine and tea some of their heart-healthy benefits. Plain soy yogurt was the most potent, with blueberry dairy yogurt scoring second on phenol and antioxidant content, the researchers said. Soy yogurt was also the best at inhibiting ACE, which causes blood vessels to narrow and raises blood pressure.

If you've been steering clear of sweet snacks like yogurt for fear of losing blood sugar control - here's your chance to reconsider. Stroll down your local grocer's dairy isle and peruse the colorful display of fruity yogurts. They are just begging for a shot at the title of the sweet treat for better diabetes control.

Black women need an attitude adjustment when it comes to weight and self-image, says Chicago Tribune writer Kayce T. Ataiyero. In an opinion piece published in the Trib a few days ago, Ataiyero lets loose in a spirited fashion on this topic. The idea that "big is beautiful" is widely accepted amongst black women, writes Ataiyero, but it is to their detriment. Yes, it's good to have a healthy self-image. The problem is that many black women are seriously overweight or obese, yet cling to the "big is beautiful" notion.

According to the latest statistics, eighty percent of black women over the age of forty are overweight or obese. Because they tend not to see overweight as a major health issue, black women put themselves at particular risk for illness, especially heart disease, high blood pressure, hypertension, and diabetes.

Ataiyero takes a few good pot shots at the comedian Mo'Nique (pictured), who advances the view that big girls are beautiful and sexy. "Ain't nothing sexy about a stroke," writes Ataiyero. This article is a great read and makes some valid points - check it out.

You're diabetic. You have enough to worry about, right? Well, sorry to add to your burden, but I just found a piece of Scary News online. People with diabetes face greater danger from West Nile Virus than do non-diabetics. But: diabetics are not alone--people with high blood pressure face the same concern. An analysis of 2005 West Nile data has shown that both diabetics and hypertension sufferers are more likely to experience severe neurological problems as a consequence of becoming infected with West Nile.

There are no guarantees for anyone determined to do their darnedest to avoid West Nile Virus. About all you can do is steer clear of mosquitoes and try and keep them from breeding in your yard. Health experts say diabetics should try to be particularly vigilant. That means, first and foremost: cover up when out of doors if you're likely to encounter the nasty biters.

Canadians versus Americans. Which nationality is more likely to suffer from diabetes, do you think? That's right: Americans. In fact, people in the US are forty-two percent more likely than Canadians to have diabetes. As if that weren't bad enough, Americans are also thirty-two percent more likely to have hypertension and twelve percent more likely to have arthritis.

This news comes to us courtesy of the American Journal of Public Health, which published results of a study conducted at Harvard Medical School. Note that this study consisted of a telephone survey conducted in 2002-2003. I wonder how accurate such surveys are - I mean, when you're trusting what people tell you about themselves, rather than relying on medical exams or records. Hmmm.

Insulin resistance is common among men with treated hypertension. A study in the UK investigated the frequency of insulin resistance among treated 106 hypertensive men who were considered to have a high risk of cardiovascular disease and 18 healthy controls. Twenty-one of the 106 patients were insulin resistant, 36 were insulin sensitive, and 49 fell into an intermediate group, the authors report.

During 3 years of follow-up, two patients in the insulin-resistant group and one patient in the intermediate group were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the results indicate. None of the insulin-sensitive patients developed diabetes.