Insulin-Producing Stem Cells Could Provide Lasting Diabetes Treatments

Researchers have crafted what may be a powerful weapon in the fight against diabetes: A new line of insulin-producing cells that has been shown to reverse diabetes in mice within forty days. Scientists hope that these cells may someday do the same in humans.
The new cells, called “Stage 7” or “S7” for their seven-step production process, are the product of a study by researchers at the University of British Columbia and the pharmaceutical company Janssen. S7 cells are made to mimic human beta cells, which are damaged or destroyed in patients with diabetes. Healthy beta cells produce insulin and help regulate blood sugar; S7 cells are grown from human embryonic stem cells and are programmed to do the same.
“The advance that they have made is that they’ve got better cells in the test tube, cells that have more insulin and can secrete insulin in response to glucose,” said Dr. Gordon Weir, a physician and researcher at Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School. “People haven’t been able to do that before.”
Human embryonic stem cells, like those used to produce the S7 line, show great promise for producing beta cell replacements. Just last week, another team of researchers led by Dr. Douglas Melton at Harvard University announced their own line of insulin-producing cells, also produced from human embryonic stem cells. Like S7 cells, the Harvard team’s cells produce insulin in response to high blood sugar and can reverse diabetes symptoms in mice.
The hope is that cells like these could be injected into diabetic patients, restoring normal beta cell f Continue reading

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KORN Singer JONATHAN DAVIS Discusses His Son's Battle With Type 1 Diabetes (Video)

KORN's new song "So Unfair", which was inspired by frontman Jonathan Davis' youngest child, Zeppelin's battle with Type 1 diabetes, can be unlocked by going to this location and contributing to JDRF (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), a major charitable 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to funding type 1 diabetes research.
Says Davis: "I want to support this wonderful organization that is fighting tooth and nail to help these little kids out. It's a horrible disease and I hate seeing kids in pain.
"Your gift will help JDRF to create a world without Type 1 Diabetes.
"Everyone who contributes to this campaign will receive our new song, 'So Unfair'. I'm also going to invite one lucky contributor and a friend to our private recording studio to create and record a song with me.
"Good luck and see you in the studio!"
Beyond the dietary changes and other lifestyle accommodations, Jonathan's son's struggle has prompted the singer and his wife Deven to become deeply involved in raising funds for research.
In a video message promoting the "So Unfair" campaign (see below), Jonathan said: "[My son's had Type 1 diabetes] for now a over a year. It's a battle for the parents, it's a battle for him, it's a battle for everybody. It's a horrible disease.
"I was out on the road. My wife was calling me, saying Zeppy was really tired and just being lethargic and laying around, and something was wrong. I got home from tour, and we took him to the hospital and told them what was going on. And they started running tests and doing all these things, and they decided to chec Continue reading

Ginger could manage diabetes.

Ginger, the common spice and ancient Asian remedy, could have the power to help manage the high levels of blood sugar which create complications for long-term diabetic patients, a University of Sydney study reports.
The study, published in the prestigious natural product journal Planta Medica, reveals the potential power of ginger to control blood glucose by using muscle cells.
Professor of pharmaceutical chemistry Basil Roufogalis who led the research says ginger extracts obtained from Buderim Ginger were able to increase the uptake of glucose into muscle cells independently of insulin.
“This assists in the management of high levels of blood sugar that create complications for long-term diabetic patients, and may allow cells to operate independently of insulin,” says Professor Roufogalis.
“The components responsible for the increase in glucose were gingerols, the major phenolic components of the ginger rhizome.
“Under normal conditions, blood glucose level is strictly maintained within a narrow range, and skeletal muscle is a major site of glucose clearance in the body.”
The pharmacy researchers extracted whole ginger rhizomes obtained from Buderim Ginger and showed that that one fraction of the extract was the most effective in reproducing the increase in glucose uptake by the whole extract in muscle cells grown in culture.
Analysis by colleagues in the University’s Faculty of Pharmacy Dr Colin Duke and Dr Van Tran showed this fraction was rich in gingerols, particularly the [6]- and [8]-gingerols.
Work also undertaken to determine how the gingerols could incr Continue reading

15 superfoods that keep blood sugar low, burn fat and prevent diabetes

co-authors of the best-sellers: The Fat Burning Kitchen, The Top 101 Foods that Fight Aging & The Diabetes Fix
Avocados
Avocados are a power-packed super food! Not only is this fruit super high in monounsaturated fat, but also chock full of vitamins, minerals, micronutrients, and antioxidants.
The healthy fats and other nutrition you get from avocados help stabilize blood sugar and insulin. The healthy fat content in avocados makes you feel full longer and takes away junk food cravings. And that equals a leaner, healthier body. Avocados contain plenty of oleic acid, the monounsaturated fat in olive oil, that helps lower cholesterol.
Avocados are also a good source of potassium, a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure and electrolytes. Adequate intake of potassium can help to guard against circulatory diseases, like high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke.
One cup of avocado has about a quarter of your required daily amount of folate, or folic acid, a B vitamin that plays an essential role in making new cells by helping to produce healthy DNA and RNA. One study showed that individuals who consume folate-rich diets have a much lower risk of cardiovascular disease or stroke than those who do not consume as much of this vital nutrient.
Avocados are also a very concentrated dietary source of the carotenoid, lutein which is good for eye health. It also contains measurable amounts of related carotenoids, zeaxanthin, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene, plus significant quantities of vitamin E, all significant cancer-fighting ingredients. My favorite lunch or snack is an av Continue reading

Starbucks apologizes to man who received ‘diabetes here I come’ message on cup

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A 16-ounce white chocolate mocha has 470 calories and 59 grams of sugar when made with 2% milk and topped with whipped cream, according to Starbucks. But it isn’t supposed to come sprinkled with snark.
The Seattle-based coffee chain has apologized to a Florida man who says he ordered a white chocolate mocha and received an unwelcome message printed on the cup’s label: “DIABETES HERE I COME.”
Action News Jacksonville reports that the incident occurred at Starbucks’ Palencia Village location in St. Augustine on Friday morning.
“I was taken aback,” the customer, who did not wish to be identified on camera, told the network. “That first word just automatically brought the picture of both sisters in my head, and I was taken aback.”
The man said his two sisters suffer from type 1 diabetes and that the snarky message brought back memories of “the struggles they went through and all the doctor appointments they had.”
“This is something we definitely don’t condone,” Kent Miller, the store’s manager, told the CBS and Fox affiliate.
“We strive to provide an inclusive and positive experience for our customers, and we’re disappointed to learn of this incident,” the Seattle-based company said in a statement. “We are working directly with the customer to apologize for his experience, and with our partners to ensure this does not happen again.”
The customer said he wasn’t looking for an apology — he just wanted to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again.
“Seeing and knowing the struggle my sisters went through by third, fourth gr Continue reading