Diabetes Cure for Mice in Toronto

Scientists in Toronto have managed to relieve diabetes in mice… starting with a relatively common food item. Researchers took a look at the similarities between diabetes and multiple sclerosis — a disease of the central nervous system. The pancreas (where insulin is produced) has “islets” that produce insulin that help the body process food and manage blood sugar. However, the researchers saw a large number of pain neurons around these islets. Using the idea that diabetes may be linked to the presence of these pain neurons, researchers injected capsaicin (the thing that makes hot peppers hot) into nerve cells near … Continue reading

A Little Hope Over Lunch…

Yesterday I had the opportunity to have lunch with the Executive Director of the Utah Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Another children’s book writer and I are pitching the idea of creating some illustrated books which could perhaps go into the “Bags of Hope” which are given to newly-diagnosed kids. All of our work would be donations to the cause. I’m excited about the project and the director seemed very receptive and encouraging. As we spoke over lunch, we talked about my two sons with juvenile diabetes. The director told me she could “count on one hand” the … Continue reading