Here's something that's bound to end up on LOL Diabetes (www.loldiabetes.com):

If you're having a low, they'll be there. If you're a child that wants to learn the difference between type1 and type 2 diabetes, they'll show you. And if you ever questioned whether the fight against Evil Blood Sugars was being fought, have no fear -- because Captain Glucose and Meter Boy are here!!!

In a series of soon-to-be-released educational DVDs, two well-known actors play the superhero duo who, by their own admission, don't really have any superpowers. Their self-proclaimed mission is to "Educate, Enlighten and Entertain people with diabetes of all ages." In addition to their forthcoming DVDs (which feature actor Alan Thicke as the Commissioner of Diabetes, no less), they also have a comic book in the works.

Man, this is such a cool idea (one that I'm definitely sorry I didn't think of!!). And, best of all, its a great way to give the public an accurate, realistic, and engaging look at diabetes. To check out their website -- which contains a short video segment -- go to: www.captainglucoseandmeterboy.com

Looking through a back-issue of Men's Health, I came across an interesting sidebar about the importance of scrutinizing nutritional labels on food. The gist of the small article was that, in most cases, people have a tendency to forget about serving size. For people with diabetes, this is of even greater importance, for a miscalculation can easily lead to a pretty wild swing in blood sugars.

Based on FDA standards, food manufacturers are required to provide calorie content and other nutritional information (e.g. Carbs, Protein, Fat, Sodium, etc.) for serving size on their labels, not the total amount in the package. So, it's very easy to not realize that you may be eating upwards as three or four times as many calories, carbs, etc. than you believe you are.

Here's a breakdown of the four foods highlighted in the issue of Men's Health. Granted, none are healthy in the first place, but you'll see that eating the product in its entirety is even worse than you may have thought.

KING-SIZE SNICKERS BAR: 170 serving size calories listed on label. 510 calories in entire bar.

20-OUNCE BOTTLE OF COCA-COLA: 100 serving size calories listed on label. 250 calories in entire bottle.

3.75-OUNCE BAG OF CHEX MIX: 130 serving size calories listed on label. 455 calories in entire package.

4-PACK KEEBLER SOFT BATCH COOKIES: 80 serving size calories listed on label. 320 calories in entire package.

Again, these foods are not exactly staples of a healthy diet to begin with, but the point is illustrated nonetheless. The same serving size issue applies for foods that people generally consider to be healthy, as well, so a serving size review is still warranted.

Researchers have believed for years that liver damage caused primarily by alcohol consumption is tied to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. In a new study that has been published in this month's Hypertension, lead author Savario Stranges, PhD, says that body fat distribution, weight fluctuations, and a liver enzyme called CGT are also high risk factors in the development of hypertension and heart disease.

The study's findings indicate that physicians should look at fatty livers as an added metabolic risk factor to examine in their patients, to determine risks of hypertension and heart attacks. Concentrated abdominal fat seems to be a particular problem, and can also be a precursor to diabetes.

Alcohol consumption is still a known cause of hypertension, but non-drinkers with high body weights should have their livers examined for CGT enzymes to gauge their risk.

For diabetics, it turns out it's not just managing glucose levels that's important to long-term health. Because diabetes has been shown to cause damage to the heart and blood vessels, diabetics must also pay attention to controlling risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is the single most common complication associated with diabetes, and women are at even higher risk for complications than men. ThirdAge has a good article on risk factors to watch out for and tips on how to control them.