Studies found that cocoa butter might be better for diabetics than other fats. A manufacturer of cocoa and chocolate is exploring the health benefits of cocoa butter for diabetics.

The positive effect of cocoa butter on diabetes was discovered during a study to determine why men and women are affected differently by diabetes. The study tried to create insulin resistance in male and female rats by feeding them a diet rich in different kinds of fats. To everyone's surprise, the animals on a cocoa fat diet developed better insulin sensitivity than those fed with other kinds of fat. Other studies have looked at the flavanoids in dark chocolate for their blood pressure lowering and insulin sensitizing attributes, so this isn't the first time chocolate seemed to have sweet effects on diabetes.

Barry Callebaut is funding this research aimed at discovering the component in cocoa butter responsible for an improvement in insulin sensitivity, with the ultimate aim of developing chocolate products for diabetics. The company has not revealed the amount of funding it is providing for the trial, nor an anticipated timeline for resulting products to be available. The positive results for the first trail - which NutraIngredients.com has not seen in full - appear to have been a surprise for those involved.

At the request of the Regulatory Affairs Manager at Generex, I am posting the following to defend the accuracy of the packaging and the claim of the product. The initial blog addressed a product called Glucose RapidSpray. The reader feedback, as well as the regulatory affairs response, is listed below. In no way, does Generex imply this product is to be used to treat hypoglycemia.

The comment to the original post stated:

The nutritional label on the product (available as a PDF on their web site) says the product has 188mg of carbs (or .188g) per serving (5 sprays). A typical glucose tablet has 4g... that's about 21x more carbs in a single glucose tablet than in 5 sprays of RapidSpray. Considering you typically use at least 15g of carbs to treat hypoglycemia, you would need around 80 sprays to get 15g of carbs into your system! When you take into account the amount of sprays you need, the calorie count isn't very much different from glucose tablets.

Read the label carefully, and be very careful using this!

The response from the Manager of Generex Regulatory Affairs states:

The product, Glucose RapidSpray™, is to be taken at the first sign of needing additional glucose in the diet, either between meals, during exercise, and/or before bedtime. It is not intended to take people out of full hypoglycemic states that normally a full tube of glucose gel or a full dose of Glucose tablets would be needed for. Glucose RapidSpray™ product is meant to be a complement to meals in order to help with glucose levels. As such, a direct correlation of carbs associated with Glucose RapidSpray™ and typical glucose tablets or gel is not warranted based on the intended use of the product. If usage of the product is maintained by taking Glucose RapidSpray™ at the first sign of needing additional glucose, then the Nutritional Facts stated on the package labeling is adequate for determining caloric intake (be it 5 sprays, 10 sprays, 15 sprays or whatever is taken to address the situation).

I consider the proactive response of Generex a good sign of how a company is run. Without needing to do so, Generex went above and beyond the call to address an open forum about the efficacy and accuracy of the product. This is the kind of interaction that convinces me a company cares! Good job, Generex! Lest I NOT hold my breath for Eli Lilly to return my call about Super Insulin. Novo Nordisk was far more receptive to address my interests, as a diabetic. Stay tuned for my follow-up on the Eli Lilly vs. Novo Nordisk – Who Love You, Baby!?!

Realizing how influential carbohydrates can be on blood sugars, I swore myself to celibacy from baked goods long ago. However, my closed-door policy underwent peace talks after I had the pleasure of speaking with Ramsey Makar, founder of Miracle Muffins. Miracle Muffins are diabetic friendly premium muffin mixes with a plethora of wholesome goodness. Fresh baked, every time -- all you have to do is add water!

Miracle is a strong word. However, when you see the impact these muffins have on blood sugar -- you'll agree it's miraculous. Ramsey wanted to create a muffin that his diabetic mother could enjoy without the rise in her sugar. He concocted a recipe that contains generous amounts of fiber, healthy soy protein, low-glycemic sweeteners, and is very low in fat. Another fact for good measure -- the muffins fit comfortably into the diet programs of Weight Watchers, Atkins, South Beach, LA Weight Loss, Nutra System and Zone.

I saved the best part for last -- the flavors! Each muffin is fresh-baked so you spare nothing on taste. The flavors available are: banana, blueberry, black cherry, chai spiced black tea, cinnamon green tea, chocolate black cherry and gingerbread. The muffin mixes have two versions based on the sweeteners used -- Spnenda or Xylitol. It says something profound about a product that actually helped an Olympic athlete lose weight! When you visit the Miracle Muffin site, take a peek at the You Tube video, read the mesmerizing nutrition details, and indulge yourself in the Miracle Muffin experience. You'll be a believer, too!

Shane Ellison, an organic chemist known as the people's chemist, warns the public about a popular sweetener. He bravely hypothesizes that a commonly used sweetener may "explode internally". He uses this term to describe the potential to damage many parts of the body such as our genetic map known as DNA - deoxyribonucleic acid.

Manufacturers of the popular sweetener were furious over his accusation. They claim that the information included in Shane's article contains many inaccuracies and false information. They asked him to discontinue any further dissemination of these false and damaging statements. They continued by saying that if he fails to take these actions promptly, that they would consider the need for further legal action. Undeterred by such threats, Shane asserts that he is entitled to his own "hypothesis." Readers should understand that he is making no definitive statements. Instead, he is expressing his grave concern over this drug disguised as a sweetener. He feels that consumers have a right to know the whole story behind what may be a very dangerous scam in the artificial sweetener business - or not.

Shane holds a master's degree in organic chemistry. He is internationally recognized as an authority on therapeutic nutrition. Check out his life saving health briefs and natural cures to see for yourself if he's crying wolf or if he's got a scientific leg to stand on.

It's that time of year, again. I see my mom frantically sifting through her not-so-organized holiday recipes. I know what's coming and it will come in the form of delegating responsibility via a tattered index card. As we all sheepishly duck into dark corners, avoiding the medly-relay handoff of our assigned task for the dinner table , I'm going to take the initiative and get a head start.

Whether you are looking for the perfect, low-carb side dish or a sugar-free cookie recipe - look no further. dLife has gone the mile, once again. Filled with over 1,100 recipes that are delicious, diabetes-friendly, and complete with nutritional analysis, the dLife Recipe Box can help you enjoy the holiday festivities. To give you an idea of what you'll find, they've got recipes for: eggnog, cranberry sauce, Passover cake, fudge brownies (a decadent delight), Chaunakah dishes, Holiday Cornbread, Christmas stuffing...the list goes on and on.

Low and behold, I was wondering where I could find myself a good old fashioned Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Thanks be to Kwanza! During the holiday season, the last thing we need is to stress over the food. Thank you dLife, for making the recipe shuffle a convenience to behold this holiday season.