I am the lucky mom of two kids, a three-year-old girl and a five-year-old boy. Motherhood has been a fun, tumultuous ride. Most days I'm showered and relatively together. Put another way, I've purchased our school supplies, but am short three glue sticks. I will take a deep breath when my son steps onto the kindergarten bus later this month, wave wildly, then sniffle on home. He'll be a school-kid. I won't be able to protect him from bullies and homework, or kiss his boo-boo if he gets beaned in the head in gym. But I can deal with this, the role of a mother continually changes and I adjusted quite easily to no diapers and a smart aleck comment now and then. But my mom has always told me, "little children, little problems." She's right -- bigger problems loom ahead. When my kids start carrying cash and beating to their own drummer, I cannot stop them from reaching for the a la carte junk sold in the school cafeteria. When I read this story about two moms starting a grassroots movement to take the junk food out of schools, I stood up and cheered.

Susan Rubin and Amy Kalafa are sick of it. They are so disgusted at the highly processed, sugary foods in U.S. schools they shot a documentary. Called Two Angry Moms, the film is about a parental war against the junk offerings in U.S. schools. Rubin founded the advocacy group Better School Food and has three school-age daughters, and Kalafa is an independent filmmaker with two daughters. Awhile back Kalafa heard a state agricultural official say it would take 2 million angry moms to change school food in our country. This was the spark that lit this brushfire, and I hope it roars into one giant wildfire. Rubin and Kalafa are fighting to remove fried foods, cookies, candy, chips, doughnuts, snack cakes and sugary drinks from school cafeterias and vending machines. Their goal is to replace the junk with healthier foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables. Kalafa stated the documentary is mostly inspirational, showing people wonderful things can be done when parents get involved.

I grew up eating casseroles once a week or so, usually a pan of creamy noodley stuff. When my sister-in-law was in the dating stage with my brother, she would coincidentally eat over on the nights my mom served noodles. For months, she seriously thought noodles were our family's only dinnertime choice. Now jokes abound whenever my mom pulls out a noodle casserole.

Whenever I'm restricting calories, I always frown when faced with a casserole. How many calories in a glop of that? What about fat and carbs? Dieting aside, when it comes to taking insulin, knowing total carbohydrates is important for accurate dosing and steady blood sugars.

An article in dLife by Lara Rondinelli offered some good pointers on estimating casserole carbs. One cup of a casserole typically contains 25-30 grams of total carbohydrates, while one cup of chili has 25 grams of carbs. That quivering spatula holding a thick slice of gooey lasagna is another story. A medium, 13 ounce square has about 35 grams of total carbs, while an Olive Garden restaurant slice (4" x 4.5") has 54 grams.

I really don't get this, but here goes: according to a report summarized on the website DiabetesHealth, weight gain reduces the severity of heart disease in type 1 diabetics. Huh? How can that be possible, I'm wondering? After all, we live in a world where weight gain is considered a great evil, a threat to individual health, a drain on our healthcare resources etc. etc. And now this!?

The findings come from the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study, which was conducted over a period of sixteen years and involved the participation of 225 type 1 diabetes patients. The Pittsburgh people agree more fat on the bones adds up to one heck of a big risk factor for heart disease. However, they also say that if you're type 1 and do get heart disease, carrying extra weight makes the heart disease less severe. They also report that this effect is especially true for women. So, the big question: why? The researchers think it's because heavier people may have better insulin control. But don't run for the local Burger Barn; weight gain is not desirable as it does more harm than good in the long run.

Per 2005 data, nearly 600,000 adults in L.A. have diabetes -- 8.8 percent of the population. L.A. has witnessed a one-third increase in merely five years -- 6.6 percent reported having the disease in 1997. Minorities are especially hard hit, with a survey showing Latinos and blacks have nearly double the rate compared to whites and Asians/Pacific Islanders.

Whether a doctor, a person with diabetes or a citizen on the sideline, frustration runs high as so many people with type 2 diabetes could prevent the disease through healthier diet and exercise. The following statistic is tremendously revealing to me, 41 percent of the L.A. adults with diabetes are obese, and the one-third rise in diabetes between '97 and '05 closely followed a large increase of obese adults, which rose from 14 percent to 21 percent in the same time frame. It is frightening to see a 50 percent rise in obesity with a simultaneous one-third rise in diabetes. It also affirms the fact not all obese people develop type 2 diabetes.

L.A. health officials cite part of the problem is the unavailability of fruits and vegetables in low-income areas. Quality supermarkets are scarce, leaving only a plethora of fast-food fare and small mini-markets. This is a complaint in urban areas nationwide, but it is especially ironic in California -- the largest grower of fruits and vegetables in the country.

Diabetics who are familiar with the glycemic index have an easier time discerning how certain foods will affect their blood sugar. The principle of the glycemic index is based on a 1 to 100 scale, with pure glucose being 100. A food GI is measured by how much it will raise blood sugar in a 2 hour span.

The glycemic index (GI) underlying theme is a low-sugar, high-fiber, plant-based diet. Most GI lists categorize foods into three groups: Low (less than 55), Medium (55-69), and High (over 70) GI foods. Low GI foods will stimulate the least blood glucose and are presumably better to eat. Vegetables generally are low GI. Foods with lots of sugar have higher values. The GI theory is not cut and dry. Certain factors will skew results, for example: eating protein. Protein will slow the abortion of glucose into the blood. This rule also holds true for fat.

Curious how a low glycemic diet might work for you? Fifty50 wants to help you achieve optimal blood sugar control. They have created a step-by-step experiment that shows how a high glycemic meal will affect a blood sugar, in relation to a low glycemic meal. Check it out and see for yourself is this GI thing is worth mastering.

Juice manufacturer Old Orchard Brands is expanding its financial support for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). A press release issued by the company announced intentions to give up to one million dollars in new funding. The company hopes to raise money for the JDRF with its Healthy Balance Challenge, in which twenty cents from each sale of Old Orchard Brands Healthy Balance line of low-sugar fruit juices will be donated to the JDRF.

The JDRF accepted Old Orchard's support last year and, according to Old Orchard, the company has pledged $650,000 worth of cash and product donations through 2009. Money raised through the Healthy Balance Challenge will be in addition to that sum. Arnold Donald, CEO of the JDRF, says partners such as Old Orchard Brands "care deeply about the work we do in researching a cure for type 1 diabetes. They continue to support our organization with innovative retail-driven programs that increase funding for research, and that's a rare and valuable partner to have."

You could also say that every dollar in support for the JDRF equals good publicity and increased sales for Old Orchard. Of course, I would never be so cynical.

The Mom of the Year Award will not be going to this lady: according to a report from Fox News, Belinda J. Menier (33) served liquor to her thirteen-year-old daughter and her daughter's diabetic friend. This occurred during a sleepover. Menier, who lives in Corunna, Indiana, was arrested last Monday and charged with felony neglect of a dependent and the misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

So what was on the tasting menu? Amaretto, apparently. According to a police report, Menier mixed the liquor with soda for the girls to taste. According to an AOL report, the diabetic girl told police she had about five drinks while at the house, but said she was fine afterwards. The mom, however, says they only had a taste and that was it. "She admitted pouring them a small taste. That's her only admission," says DeKalb County Sheriff Sergeant Donald Lauer.

Good Lord. Does this really sound like good use of police time and money? Sure, Menier wasn't using her best mommy judgment when she decided to entertain the kids with alcoholic beverages! But does she deserve to be put through hell for her actions? I guess a big factor here is: did she know the daughter's friend was diabetic?

In reality, even though we watch our diet, blood sugar is not a perfect science. However it is known that some foods are more influential than others. These foods are mostly carbohydrates - and they can affect more than just our blood sugar. Carbohydrates can affect our moods and appetite through a neurotransmitter called serotonin.

Serotonin is unique in that it is indirectly controlled by foods, specifically carbohydrates. It's not surprising that eating foods like chocolate cake and potato chips can lift your spirits for a moment or two - but the aftermath doesn't always seem as exhilarating. This becomes a fattening trend, after a while. Why do we get a spiritual uplift from indulging in these no no yum yums?

There is an explanation for this fattening fix. Different sugars affect the brain in different ways. Beware of sugars that are more processed like: glucose, dextrose, and sucrose. These sugars enter the bloodstream quickly, reaching high levels in a short time. This triggers the release of large amounts of insulin. The evolution of man has not adapted for highly refined sugars. This type of sugar is quickly ushered to the cells. Depending on how active a person you are - this energy may not be used up and therefore results to fat storage. A good indicator to use when choosing carbs is the glycemic index. The lower you stay on the index, the less the overall impact on your blood sugar rise. Checkout Fifty50 glycemic index for a list of everyday foods.

Ever wonder what would happen to a non-diabetic's blood sugar if they loaded up on a pile of concentrated sugar, preservatives and weird science fats? Doctors and the ADA call it prediabetes. This clip takes it to the extreme by sandwiching the center of 16 double stuff Oreos! Sometimes you have to be insanely blunt to make your point.

This is a brilliant example of the diabetes epidemic in action. In today's world -- many people are eating for convenience without realizing the consequences. More convenient equates to less nutritious - more preservatives, more sugar and even more fattening (the wrong fats, too!) The combination increases the amount of time our digestive enzymes need to work on these lab-derived ingredients. This sustains an elevated blood sugar following the time of consumption. Add the ADA definition of pre-diabetes (a blood sugar between 140 to 199 mg/dl 2 hours after a meal) and there you have it -- a potential player on Team Diabetes!

Think what would happen if this guy was in his doctor's office 2 hours after this stunt. I'd like to thank his employer for keeping him busy (whatever he's paid to do) well after the lunch hour - and protecting him from becoming another statistic. Big ups to HR for hiring this guy!! If he's not in marketing already -- you might consider a transfer and give this guy a raise. He's my Oreo hero.

What happens when you do "Supersize Me" in reverse? Why, you get a documentary like "Raw for 30 Days." The film-makers of "Raw" got six type 2 diabetics with less than stellar lifestyle habits and persuaded them to switch out hamburgers and fried chicken for a raw, whole foods diet consisting of all-organic, all-vegan foods. Mmm mmm.

You can't see the movie quite yet. But you can see the preview. Just click on over to the "Raw for 30 Days" website. My source says the preview can also be viewed on YouTube or Google Video. The finished product is now in post-production and should be released in time for Spring 2008 film festivals.

The documentary was directed by Sundance Film Festival-winner Aiyana Elliott, but the concept was created by the executive producer, Mark Perlmutter. The idea is to demonstrate that type 2 diabetes can be reversed "naturally" - that is, without the aid of a battery of prescription drugs. Says Perlmutter, "The release of our nine-minute preview may be the first exposure some have to a greater understanding of controlling, if not conquering the disease."

Okay, so the premise is a little shaky. For one thing: how much can be achieved in only thirty days? For another: it's changing lifestyle habits and maintaining them over time that's key in reversing symptoms of t2 diabetes or pre-diabetes. But why be a party-pooper? After all, raising awareness about diabetes is a good thing. I would definitely like to see this film.

I was intrigued by a recent Swedish study reporting that people on a so-called "Stone Age" diet had more stable blood sugar levels than those on a Mediterranean diet. An intriguing claim, because it's so often said that Mediterranean-style eating is super-healthful. Let's also admit it is a delicious way to eat: yes, pasta and bread is there, but it's balanced out by tons of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and olive oil. The Stone Age way is a bit more spare: we're talkin' meat, fish, and lots of whole grains, berries and nuts. Nary a sliver of Parmesan in sight.

However, the results of yet another study, this time from Australia, indicates Mediterranean-style eating is a good choice, especially for diabetics. Researchers from the University of Melbourne say Mediterranean-born immigrants in Australia are less likely to die from heart disease than other Australians. The researchers have concluded it's all down to dietary patterns. More than forty thousand people participated in the study over a period of ten years. The numbers revealed those who ate the most Mediterranean-style foods had a thirty percent lower risk of dying from heart disease. For diabetics, the researchers speculate, the benefits could be even higher, reducing the risk of death due to ischemic heart disease.

Results have been published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Visit Reuters for a discussion of the study.

It's often said that grass-roots level initiatives are what will turn the tide on the spread of type 2 diabetes. Here's an example of a grass-roots success story: Catholic News reports that Australian Aborigines from the Mowanjum community of Western Australia are benefiting from the introduction of a type 2 prevention and management program.

Titled "Indigenous communities beat diabetes," (that could be a bit of an overstatement), the article describes the impact of the program in Mowanjum community in Western Australia. Successes include the introduction of a comprehensive diabetes education program aimed at young people with diabetes. The program, which is organized by Aboriginal development group Unity of First Peoples Australia, also reported improved quality of care for diabetics. Next task on the list is trying to get all adolescents in the community to achieve normal or near-normal blood sugar levels.

Says a member of the review panel responsible for assessing the program, it's success "is testament to the fact that Indigenous communities have the capabilities and are able to implement life changing programs in a manner that is sustainable and community owned."

Did you know there are 6 different ways to enjoy Diet Coke with added nutritional benefits? Diet Coke is building up its brand to include essential vitamins and minerals for the health-conscious Diet Coke lovers. Allow me to introduce you to Diet Coke Plus!

Diet Coke Plus offers automatic health benefits with the great taste Diet Coke drinkers have come to expect. Each serving provides 15% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of niacin, and vitamins B6 and B12 and 10% of the RDI for zinc and magnesium. After a little investigating - the vitamins and minerals in Diet Coke Plus might truly payoff. Low magnesium is tied to increased diabetes risk and zinc plays a key role in glucose metabolism. Vitamins B6 and B12 assist in protecting the body from nerve damage from diabetes. In fact, vitamins B6 and B12 showed a positive influence on vibration perception and nerve conduction speed (NCV) in people with diabetic neuropathy.

Coca Cola realized that Diet Coke drinkers are increasingly looking for more beverage options. Coke decided to remove the guilt from the pleasure. With benefits including: increased glucose metabolism, reduction of diabetes risk, and enhanced nerve perception -- move over Verizon. Diet Coke Plus is asking - can you feel me now??

This past spring a new book by Gina Kolata, a science reporter for the New York Times, hit the scene -- Rethinking Thin: The New Science of Weight Loss - and the Myths and Realities of Dieting. I came across a mention of the book in the blogosphere and had to check it out. I have personally not read the book yet, but I have poured over newspaper and reader reviews.

In Rethinking Thin, Kolata argues being fat is biological destiny. She says most overweight people are stuck within a relatively narrow weight range set by their genes. But as obesity rates have steadily risen and the phrase 'obesity epidemic' sails across the news waves, the pressure to eat healthy, exercise and lose weight screams in response.

Kolata notes dieters only manage to keep off a little weight, sharing scientific evidence to explain this constant, disappointing phenomenon. Fat people have more fat cells, and while their metabolisms are normal, their appetites are larger. Losing significant weight often triggers a powerful "primal hunger." Furthermore, studies on twins and adopted children show inheritance may account for up to 70 percent of weight variance. Kolata leans heavily on the influence of genetics -- questioning the popular belief 'fat people can become thin if they would only apply themselves.' A similar argument is often applied to overweight people with type 2 diabetes -- 'just lose the weight already and you will be cured!' But if obesity is nearly all genetic, why are we getting fatter and fatter?

Emily Bazelon's book review in the New York Times is a nice overview of Kolata's arguments. Bazelon throws out a few challenges, pointing out Kolata ignores the influence of the 'gazillion-dollar food industry'. She also questions Kolata's speculation that obesity might be a response to modern medical advancements -- that our nation's improved early nutrition, vaccines or antibiotics might somehow change the brain's control over weight. This is an interesting line of thought, very different from the concept that our ancestral caveman's between-the-hunt survival biology simply cannot handle our country's overabundance of cheap, calorie-laden cuisine consumed in a car.

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!