Jennifer Ordoñez, a Newsweek journalist who is also a Type 1 diabetic, reported on her experience at a triathlon training camp geared for diabetics. After reading her report, I was curious as to why hypoglycemia would cause a diabetic to fail the VO2 max test.

Nobody likes failing tests - especially when it comes to something as important as VO2 max. VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen a person uses while exercising at their limit for one minute. If you are in shape, your muscles will use a lot of oxygen to create energy. The prime source of energy for the body comes from blood sugar. When Jennifer took her VO2 test her blood sugar was falling and she failed. Apparently when blood sugar is falling the body puts itself into energy lockdown which compromises even conditioned athletes VO2 max.

Hypoglycemia causes muscles to fatigue quicker. Muscle fatigue is the result of inadequate oxygen availability. Prevention of hypoglycemia is one of the major objectives of adequate blood sugar when you are about to work out. By maintaining optimal blood sugar, you can assure a better level of exercise performance. I know better than to tell you what to do. But as a friendly reminder: make sure you've fueled up adequately before you hit the gym or the open road to work on your VO2 max.

A lot of people I know avoid foods that list high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as an ingredient. Apart from the calories they add to foods, there's a growing belief that lab-devised products like HFCS are simply unnatural and may be harmful. Wikipedia has an interesting article on the origins and controversy surrounding HFCS, if you want to learn more.

Not surprisingly, the food industry has always defended HFCS against claims that it is harmful. But here's the latest contradiction of that claim: a recent study found that HFCS is "astonishingly" high in reactive carbonyls, which are thought to contribute to the development of diabetes. The study was led by Dr. Chi-tang Ho, head of Rutgers University's Department of Food Science, and colleagues. They concluded that one can of HFCS-sweetened soda contains five times the reactive carbonyls that are normally found in the blood of a person with diabetes.

A news release by the American Chemical Society, announcing Dr. Ho's findings, notes that previous studies have already linked HFCS to cell and tissue damage. They suggest that HFCS consumption may raise the risk of diabetes, not to mention obesity. Say's Dr. Ho: "People consume too much high-fructose corn syrup in this country. It's in way too many food and drink products and there's growing evidence that it's bad for you."

Bev did a great job covering the study of obese mice having protection from elevated blood sugar due to a plethora of adiponectin. Adiponectin was shown to enhance insulin signaling which transported the excess glucose to less harmful areas of the body, rather than the cells which would endure diabetes complications. The results of this study created a condition called ratones mórbidamente obesos - which sounds better in Spanish because in English this means morbidly obese mice.

You know what they say about hindsight, right? A study from a year ago revealed some good news and some bad news. Good news first - turns out Type 2 diabetes drugs using troglitazone increased adiponectin. Rezulin was one of these drugs, but it was removed from the US market March 21, 2000. Now the bad news, the Type 2 diabetes drugs made with metformin were shown to reduce adiponectin. A few of the drugs that use metformin are Fortamet, Glucophage, Glucophage XR, and Riomet.

So why must diabetics be led with imperfect vision? Because the bottom line is researchers and doctors believe they are saving lives every day. Yes, they do. But there is a lot to behold when you tinker with His design. Remember the movie Malice? These lines don't make it into movies for nothing. Producers know human nature and they stretch it to the extreme. Whether or not you want to admit it - you know a few people with a complex like Alec Baldwins. Alec Baldwin says, "You ask me if I have a God complex. Let me tell you something: I am God". Click for the entire 1:30 scene, courtesy of YouTube.

If you're a daytime tv addict- the upcoming JDRF event might be worth your time and money. And don't worry about missing an episode of Days of our Lives. The event is being held on Saturday, August 25t!

Several stars of NBC's hit daytime drama series, Days of our Lives, are heading to Massachusetts on August 25 to support a charity event for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). From 11am to 4pm, fans will get the opportunity to "meet and greet" their favorite Days of our Lives actors and actresses. There will also be photo opportunities and autograph sessions, as well as show novelties up for sale. However, food and beverages will not be served during the daytime reception, which has been priced at $80 per person.

Among the Days of our Lives stars that are slated to appear that night are James Scott (EJ Wells), Stephen Nichols (Steve "Patch" Johnson), Rachel Melvin (Chelsea Brady), Judi Evans (Adrienne Josephine Johnson Kiriakis) and Blake Berris (Nick Fallon). The JDRF charity event will be held at the Burlington Marriot. Fans who wish to attend the event can order tickets online. For those who will be coming from outside the Burlington area, a block of rooms have been set aside by the hotel specifically for the event. For room reservations, call 1-781-229-6565. Like sands through the hourglass... attend the fundraising event to enjoy the stars from Days of our Lives!

That's Fit did a great piece featuring the benefits fiber adds to most of our diets. In fact, the FDA recommends we eat 25 to 30 grams a day when most of us are eating less than half that amount!

Even Oprah is praising the nutritious secrets of fiber. Her helping hand, Dr. Oz, has written it all down for you in his latest book, YOU on a Diet. Oprah has featured the YOU: On a Diet Basics in a slide show on her site.

The slide show compels me to brave Borders again (at least this time I might not have to navigate swarms of Harry Potter fanatics). YOU: On a Diet promises to invigorate me with equal parts information, motivation, and change-your-life action that will harmoniously direct my body into wellness. After all - this is the doctor who has helped Oprah look like a daytime supermodel. I'm sold!

The Detroit Free Press is running a nice piece by columnist Drew Sharp about golfing pro and Type 1 diabetic Scott Verplank. Titled "Golfer Verplank an inspiration to fellow diabetics," Sharp observes that athletes with diabetes are in a unique situation. "Athletes are taught to fight through pain, to develop a higher threshold for it. But diabetics don't get that luxury, because maintaining the proper blood glucose equilibrium is mandatory," Sharp writes.

Verplank is forty-two years old and hails from Texas. According to his Wikipedia entry, he was honored in 2002 with the Ben Hogan Award, which is given by the Golf Writers Association of America to golfers who continue with the game despite a major illness or injury. Talking about his ability, as a sports pro with diabetes, to positively influence the lives of others, especially youngsters, Verplank remarked: "If what I went through can inspire even one kid to run his own life and not let diabetes run his own life, then it was all worth it." He says determination is key, adding: "whenever you can find positives out of the challenges thrown at you in life, it makes you stronger." I don't know much about golf, but this is an ethos that Verplank clearly lives, with the columnist Sharp describing him as "the ultimate grinder."

One last thing: I was checking out readers' comments on this article and this one made my jaw drop: "Verplank is not an inspiration. I have diabetes and I get know [sic] hope from some lame golfer that [sic] is mediocre at best." Wow. How mean-spirited can you be?

British-based website Scientist Live reports on a possible link between cancer and the use of thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a class of medications used to treat diabetes. The link comes from the Vermont Diabetes Information System, which enrolled just over one thousand participants in a study that relied on self-reported patient information and lab-verified data. The authors of the study assert that the link between TZD use and increased incidence of cancer is significant even after correcting data to allow for the influence of other factors such as smoking, body mass index, and other drugs being taken by the patients.

A little background: TZDs are prescribed because they lower blood sugar levels. They work by lowering insulin resistance, making the body better able to respond to insulin without actually causing an increase in insulin production. Brand name examples of TZDs include Actos, Avandia and Metformin. A type of TZD medication was banned in Europe after it was found to cause severe liver damage. According to the Wikipedia entry on TZDs, these substances are being investigated as potential treatments for a handful of other medical problems, but are currently used just for diabetes.

If there is indeed a link between TZD usage and increased cancer risk, we really need to find out ASAP. These drugs are prescribed to treat a chronic condition, so once you're on one you're likely to stay on it long-term. Who wants to be exposed to that on top of all the other possible side-effect risks? Stay tuned.

It's here and you should know all about the first over the counter FDA approved weight loss pill, alli. A word of caution: if you're a cheater on your diets - it seems like Glaxo is raising red flags before things get messy. No seriously, read on to find out what I'm talking about.

Alli works by preventing your body from absorbing some of the fat you eat. It attaches to natural enzymes in the digestive system and prevents absorption of fat from the foods you eat. Undigested fat cannot be absorbed and passes through the body naturally. I know you're wondering about side effects, so here you go: the most common treatment effects (as they're eloquently called) come from eating meals with too much fat. The unabsorbed excess fat is not harmful - but it will not go unnoticed. In fact, you may recognize it in the toilet as something that looks like the oil on top of a pizza. The treatment effects may include gas with oily spotting, loose stools, and more frequent stools that may be hard to control. Eating a low-fat diet with 15 grams of fat per meal on average can lower the chance of experiencing these treatment effects.

Final thoughts to consider: #1 - It doesn't require a prescription but it will cost you. Expect to pay between $65 and $75 per month for alli. #2 -- Users of alli must reduce the fat in their diets or else they will run the risk of the trots. Does this remind anybody of those fat free potato chips made with Olestra? The Diet Channel has an article, written by an MD, for more details on the first ever FDA approved over-the-counter weight loss product. Click to read the whole review.

GlaxoSmithKline has its hands full right now big-time, defending its conduct over the ever-deepening Avandia scandal. But the big-name pharma company isn't giving up the fight. (No surprise there...) Today Glaxo ran full-page advertisements in a number of prominent US newspapers. The move is described by Britain's Guardian as the launching of a major PR war. The ads are featured in fifteen major newspapers, says the Guardian, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and the LA Times. The ad is a direct appeal to patients, taking the form of an open letter from Glaxo's chief medical officer, Dr. Ronald Krall. (Guess he's working some late nights at the moment, huh?)

The ads were timed to appear one day before the congressional hearing on the US Food and Drug Administration's work on Avandia and consumer safety, which is scheduled for tomorrow. Another Glaxo-penned letter defending Avandia was also published in the medical journal the Lancet. Said a company spokesman of today's ads: "We are determined to make sure the science we feel backs us up is heard."

This article also notes that weekly prescriptions for Avandia have fallen by sixteen percent since the recent publication of a damaging article by Dr. Steven Nissen in the New England Journal of Medicine. Nissen asserted that Avandia could increase the risk of heart attack by forty-three percent and the risk of cardiac-related death by sixty-four percent.

By the way, it is worth checking out the Wikipedia entry on Glaxo for a brief rundown of the company's history, including previous wrangles with the media and the law over its products. Note, though, the entry has not yet been updated in the wake of the Avandia scandal.

The Diet Channel promotes the headline: eat right, exercise smart, feel great! An authoritative resource for diet and fitness information, The Diet Channel offers several different summaries of the most popular diets, as well as informative articles on nutrition and health.

An article of diabetic interest pertains to those of us who are curious (or downright fixated) on artificial sweeteners. This article warns that it is not always safe to assume that just because a product is made with a sugar substitute, such as Splenda, it is healthier, or lower in calorie content. A thorough list of sweeteners and their key ingredients end the article, along with research findings on the safety of these products.

The Diet Channel offers information on every flavor of diet you can imagine, articles to motivate you to stick with it, and loads of information to keep you coming back. If I didn't know any better - I'd say it looks to be the wikipedia of dieting. And if you've ever found yourself consuming hour after hour digging through wikipedia topics...you'll know exactly what I'm talking about!

When blood sugar is falling, the stopper built into the body is the release of glucagon from the alpha cells of the pancreas which stimulates the release of glucose from the liver (but only if your adrenaline is flowing). However, when hypoglycemia is due to injected insulin - the stopper isn't entirely in place. Scientists explain how epinephrine (adrenaline) plays a major role in regulating glucose in times of low blood sugar and how this response could be adversely affected by the use of beta-blockers.

During insulin-induced hypoglycemia in dogs, the roles of adrenaline and glucagon were evaluated. The dogs fasted overnight to remove excess glucose from the blood. The dogs also had their adrenal glands removed. The adrenal glands are the source of adrenaline. Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream in response to physical or mental stress,to initiate the stimulation of glucose, among many other functions. Adrenaline and insulin were released at two different rates: a basal rate or a variable rate to simulate an adrenaline response. When the blood sugar fell to 42 mg/dL, the dogs in the basal rate group failed to release glucagon, but the simulated adrenaline response group increased normally. The liver response to releasing glucose fell in the basal group but increased in the simulated adrenaline response group. The researchers conclude that adrenaline must be responsible for this critical response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia.

Beta blockers are a common class of prescription drugs that counteract the stimulatory effects of adrenaline. Diabetics who inject insulin and take beta-blockers should be extra cautious of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemic unawareness is already established for diabetics injecting GM insulin (genetically modified human insulin). Given the side effects of beta blockers, there is greater reason to be more aware of hypoglycemis unawareness -- yes, oxymoron. Those individuals who are on the brink of diabetes should avoid beta-blockers at all costs, according to a study in The Lancet (January 2007) beta-blockers used for hypertension increase a patient's risk of developing diabetes.

A 12 year study examined three separate definitions of the Metabolic Syndrome and how it can be used to predict major outcomes of diabetes (MOD). In case you were wondering, MOD is the easy way to explain complications like coronary artery disease, renal failure, diabetes-related death, or an aggregate of all of the above.

The study involved 514 type 1 diabetics. The three definitions of Metabolic Syndrome used for the study were taken from: NCEP ATP III (AHA Modified), International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and the World Health Organization (WHO). The prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome ranged from 8% (IDF) to 21% (WHO) at the conclusion of the 12-year follow-up. All definitions showed reasonable specificity (83%) for each outcome, while the WHO definition had the highest sensitivity for all outcomes except Renal Failure, for which eGDR was most sensitive. However, the individual assessment of each complication, rather than an aggregate estimate, was most accurate. Microalbuminuria was clearly the strongest predictor of all individual outcomes.

What an acronym! MOD stands for major outcomes of diabetes, which is far less posh than the vernacular predecessor, mod, which means vanguard in style. But I digress -- praise be microalbuminuria for being crowned the best single predictor of MOD. If you happen to linger with curiosity to learn more about microalbuminuria, indulge in the deep ocean of Wikipedia.

What increases bone density, promotes digestive health, helps keep kids healthy, and benefits the management of diabetes? Here's a hint, it sounds like the lifeblood treatment for type 1 diabetes - insulin - but the name of this goodie is inulin. Inulin in foods provides both bulk and sweetness without causing a rise in glucose levels.

Inulin is a natural dietary fiber found in over 35,000 common foods like artichokes, asparagus, onions, garlic, raisins and bananas. As an undigested fiber, it has no effect on blood glucose levels. It has a zero Glycemic Index. You could easily find it in your grocer's refrigerated section in Stonyfield Farm yogurts. Their version of inulin comes from chicory roots. Amazing all the places this ingredient naturally derives!

It is used increasingly in foods, because it has excellent nutritional and functional characteristics. Inulin can be used to replace sugar, fat, and flour. For the masses concerned with nutrition-labels, it contains one-third to one-fourth the food energy of sugar or other carbohydrates and one-sixth to one-ninth the food energy of fat. I'm curious to see what it tastes like, aren't you? From ignorant experience (uninformed of the artificial sweeteners used) I enjoy Stonyfield yogurts. I'll have to try another brand name with inulin on for size. Breaking news!! I just checked the ingredients in my newest dopamine-boosting fix: Trader Joe's low-glycemic dark chocolate. Golly gee-- sure enough inulin is on the list. I'm so in love with this dark chocolate because it really has such an insignificant affect on my blood sugar. Ultimate kudos to Ramsey, the creator of Miracle Muffins, for this sweet trinket of knowledge on artificial sweeteners!!

A wiki about a controversial prescription drug has been ordered by a US court to remove a link to documents which originated with Eli Lilly, the drug's manufacturer. Eli Lilly has paid nearly $1.7 billions to settle cases over its alleged side effects from its drug Zyprexa, including diabetes.

The wiki about Zyprexa published a link to internal Eli Lilly documents which the New York Times said showed that the company deliberately downplayed the side effects of the drug, which are alleged to include weight gain, high blood sugar levels and diabetes.

The judge in one of the product liability cases ordered the site and a number of named individuals to refrain from distributing the documents. A digital rights group defended the free speech rights of one anonymous poster but the judge would not budge. The electronic gag order will remain in effect until the case is resolved, sometime after January 16th.