So this is only preliminary, and I’m a bit suspicious of one of the sponsors, but still, this BBC article covers research suggesting that drinking black teas can have beneficial effects for type 2 diabetics. Since I already like black tea this becomes an easy one for me.

And not for the reasons you think! There’s a lot of research on amphibians and type 2 diabetes these days because of the way they’re able to metabolize sugars. There’s a story over on the BBC covering research into a compound found in the secretion on the skin of a species of frog in south america shows promise for new drug treatments. Worth a quick read if you’re obsessed with diabetes-related news like me.

Here’s a potential game changer. Type 2 diabetes is not as well understood as Type 1. Recent research demonstrates a correlation between skeletal system’s secretion of a hormone and the metabolization of sugars. This is interesting on a couple of levels, first because it provides additional insight and avenues of research for understanding Type 2 Diabetes, and because it offers clues that there may be new possibilities for treatments.

It’s a single study, and a very small sample size, but still, this report on webmd
about a study demonstrating increased blood sugars in type 2 diabetics who use caffeine was a major bummer for me. Coffee is my number 1 vice these days, and it’s also the way I feed my sweet tooth. One small study is not enough to change my ways, but it means now I need to watch for more research in this area, and man what a bummer

And it’s true! According to this piece on the BBC News site covering research from the University of Wisconsin, drinking stout regularly provided dogs with reduced clogging in their arteries. Works for me – I already regularly drink stouts, this just makes it an easier decision to make when I’m choosing what to drink.

Here’s a super handy resource I use frequently – it’s a database maintained by the USDA that lists the nutritional contents of foods, both commercially prepared packaged foods and the raw materials they’re made of. I use it to check the carb counts of foods, but it’s useful to anyone trying to figure out what’s in a given food, from a twinkie to a stalk of celery. The interface isn’t much to look at but it’s speedy and has a ton of content.