In type 1 diabetes, insulin is the 'gold standard' for lowering high blood sugar levels and manage its consequences such as diabetic coma.

Findings at UT Southwestern Medical Center suggests that insulin isn't the only one effective for this purpose. Leptin could be too, as demonstrated by their studies in animal models. Leptin is a hormone produced by the body's fat cells which they found lowers blood glucose levels and maintains them in a normal range for extended periods, longer than insulin does.

The mechanism of leptin's glucose-lowering action appears to involve the suppression of glucagon, a hormone produced by the pancreas that raises glucose levels. Normally, glucagon is released when the glucose, or sugar, level in the blood is low. In insulin deficiency, however, glucagon levels are inappropriately high and cause the liver to release excessive amounts of glucose into the bloodstream. This action is opposed by insulin, which tells the body's cells to remove sugar from the bloodstream.

In the current study, researchers tested for the first time whether a single injection of the leptin gene given to insulin-deficient mice and rats on the verge of death from diabetic coma could reverse the severe condition and prevent the animals from dying. The animals that received the leptin gene began producing excessive amounts of leptin, which reversed all the measurable consequences of type 1 diabetes including weight loss, hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis, a potentially fatal condition that develops when the body doesn't have enough insulin to meet basic metabolic requirements.

The researchers believe that though it is too early to tell if leptin can one day replace insulin in insulin-dependent diabetes, it may help in the management of type 1 diabetes. Human clinical trials of course has to yield consistently positive results.

ATTN: People with diabetes

What: "Walk In Nick's Shoes" (W.I.N.S.) Sweepstakes

When: (contest runs) August 25-October 1, 2008

Nick Jonas and Bayer Diabetes Care is inviting people with diabetes to enter the "Walk In Nick's Shoes" (W.I.N.S.) sweepstakes. Four Grand Prize winners will meet Nick Jonas (of the teen pop sensation Jonas Brothers) in Los Angeles and have the opportunity to be part of "Team Jonas" at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk for the Cure in Los Angeles on November 1.

The said sweepstakes running from August 25- October 1, 2008 also kicks off the launch of Bayer Diabetes Care's new CONTOUR® blood glucose meter, the meter being used by Nick Jonas himself.

Here are a few highlighted information regarding the sweepstakes abovementioned (thanks to Stephanie Wolf for providing us with this information):

Grand Prize Winner Information:

• Four-day/three-night trip to Los Angeles, CA for the winner and one guest to participate in the walk.
• Round-trip air transportation to Los Angeles, standard hotel accommodations for three nights, ground transportation and a daily allowance.
• Receipt of a Fit4D diabetes-coaching program that includes a coach who will accompany the winner during the walk, a one-to-one diabetes-coaching package for four months and eight months of fitness coaching.

First and Second Prize Winner Information:

• Ten First Prize winners will receive a pair of sneakers autographed by Nick Jonas
• 100 Second Prize winners will receive a t-shirt

Sweepstakes Rules:

• Open to legal residents of the U.S. age 13 or older who have been diagnosed with diabetes
• Permission of parent (or legal guardian) will be required for entrants under the age of 18.
• A random drawing will be conducted on or about October 3, 2008 from among all eligible entries.
• Grand Prize winners will be required to provide a letter from a physician confirming winner's diagnosis of diabetes and stating that she or he is physically able to participate in the Los Angeles JDRF Walk for the Cure.

To enter this sweepstakes/contest, go to www.NicksSimpleWins.com (a product of the Nick Jonas-Bayer Diabetes Care partnership earlier this month) and you can read the full press release from Bayer Diabetes Care (pdf file) for more information.

Volunteers are wanted by a team of scientists from Aston University in Birmingham (UK) in order to carry out a unique study using the eyes to detect early signs of health problems that could lead to diabetes.

A team of scientists from Aston's Ophthalmic Research Group (ORG) are looking for healthy 20-65 year olds to take part in a free health check - results of which could help in detecting risk for diabetes or early diabetic changes. The scientists are particularly interested in the differences in these factors between the South Asian community and Caucasian population in Birmingham.

Find out the full details of this call for volunteers from Aston University.

Earlier this year, i wrote about ZSweet® while last month I wrote about Truvia™.

Both are natural sweeteners - a perfect sugar substitute for diabetics - whose main ingredient is erythritol.

Erythritol is the naturally-occurring sugar alcohol which has the least effect to blood sugar.

I have to admit that i have received samples of each product - ZSweet® and Truvia™ - for review.

Both are quite a change from the synthetic, chemical-based sugar alternatives, I have to say.

Here are a few facts about ZSweet® that i would like to highlight:

ZSweet® sweeteners taste close to sugar and are 100% natural, zero glycemic and zero calorie. ZSweet® contains no carbohydrate fillers or artificial ingredients, even in trace amounts.

We offer ZSweet® that is made from either all natural or Certified USDA organic sugar. The erythritol is naturally cultured from sugar, infused with natural fruit extracts and then crystalized.

We are dedicated to offering a healthy sweetener with all natural starting materials, ingredients, and all natural processing. Therefore, all of the ingredients in ZSweet® are non-GMO, as well as gluten free and contains no known allergens.

While here are the ones of Truvia™ that i would like to highlight here:

Cargill, in partnership with the Coca-Cola Company, has developed rebiana as a natural, zero calorie ingredient that will be marketed by Cargill under the brand name Truvia™. Truvia™ rebiana is 200 times sweeter than sugar.

Truvia™ rebiana comes from the leaves of the stevia plant, which was discovered more than 200 years ago in South America and has been used as a sweetener in various parts of the world for more than three decades.

However, Truvia™ rebiana is different from most stevia sold today because it consists of only the best-tasting components of the stevia leaf. It is the first fully-characterized, high-purity product of its kind.

Find out more about these two big products in the market ZSweet® and Truvia™ and decide for yourself which you prefer.

With all the literature presented to me, it appears that both are safe, natural alternatives to sugar. But if i am going to let my tastebuds decide, the balance will tip towards ZSweet®. But that's just me. What about you, which one would you prefer?

Byetta (exenatide) injection - the first incretin mimetic for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults has now been linked to 6 cases of hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis as reported to the FDA.

The FDA wrote as a warning to endocrinologists, other healthcare professionals and consumers:

Byetta and other potentially suspect drugs should be promptly discontinued if pancreatitis is suspected. There are no signs or symptoms that distinguish acute hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis associated with Byetta from the less severe form of pancreatitis.

If pancreatitis is confirmed, initiate appropriate treatment and carefully monitor the patient until recovery. Byetta should not be restarted. Consider antidiabetic therapies other than Byetta in patients with a history of pancreatitis

Byetta is a product of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company.

Just when we thought that a wonderful treatment such as Byetta is available for diabetes patients in efficiently regulating blood sugar levels, reports such as this comes out. Sometimes I feel that each and everyone of us are at the mercy of drug makers and regulating bodies.

What now? Are we going to see Byetta phased out of the market? Or will this warning remain just as that, an FDA warning?

One thing is for sure, acute pancreatitis is deadly. But if we come to think of it, nothing really is 'safe' out there.