Diabetes News

Note from Connie: My Snickers-not escapade -- which I posted about earlier -- elicited major chuckles from my assistant Karen. So, in the spirit of fairness and also good-natured fun, I asked Karen to give her reaction to finding a snack-sized candy bar on my premises, of all places! Here are her thoughts -- unedited by me -- well, I took out the details about my project. By the way, I absolutely burst into laughter at reading this:

So I was kneeling down packing up some books, and there, almost blending into the shadows under Connie's desk, but not quite, was a Fun Size Snickers. The kind I used to eat three of -- telling myself it was better than eating one normal size bar. (Like I'd burn more calories opening the additional wrappers or something?)

Had a bag or two been lying around, I would have immediately assumed Connie was using it as a prop for a talk or TV appearance.

But there it was all by itself. It looked guilty.

I did not think "Shame on you," as Connie suspected, though.

On the contrary, I thought something more along the lines of, "Oh my gosh, I've just seen something very personal I wasn't supposed to see..."

Kind of like that time when I was a kid and accidentally walked in on my parents in the middle of...well, I was too young to know what it was anyway, but their horrified expressions told me I was definitely in the wrong place.

Yep. Kind of like that.

But what should I do?

Was Connie on a sugar bender? Did she need help? Was her world falling apart without anyone knowing it?

Did she need an intervention?

And should I say something? Or should I keep my mouth shut?

I debated. My curiosity ultimately won. I blurted out the question, bracing myself for the worst.

But instead of confessions and tears, Connie bounced up, rummaged through her closet and quickly produced a jack-o-lantern container and bags and bags of candy.

Then she happily told me about the project she's working on...

Karen James for the SUGAR SHOCK! Blog

Note from Connie again: So, based on my innocent, almost-gleeful reaction, Karen was assured that I was still sugar-free. And no, I did not fall off the wagon. ...Sorry, folks, I had to cut out my jaw-dropping candy findings, which I shared with Karen. I promise -- you'll hear more about them later.

Now this takes the cake. Pardon the pun.

Neurons in our brains may become "excited" by glucose surges, which could help trigger type 2 diabetes? Well, so speculate scientists from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard. Fascinating.

Got a sugar problem? Well, there is a solution.

You'll hear me say as much to Cathy Blythe, host of "Problems & Solutions" today, Aug. 31^stfrom 9:10 to 10:00 a.m. Central (10:10 to 11 am EST) The show airs on 1240 AM KFOR in Lincoln, Nebraska and also on KJSK AM 900 in Columbus, Nebraska.

It'll be fun to be interviewed by Cathy. The broadcaster has very impressive credentials. Not only is she host of "Problems and Solutions," but she has been co-host of the KFOR Morning Show since 1982.

Meanwhile, her "Problems & Solutions" show has won top awards from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and the Associated Press for service to the community. Cathy also is in the Nebraska Radio Personalities Hall of Fame.

What's more, Cathy was named National Personality of the Year in 2002, receiving the prestigious Marconi Award from the National Association of Broadcasters. The Marconi Award is the highest award given in broadcasting.

Hope those of you in Nebraska can join us.

Karen thinks I cheated. Fell off the no-sugar wagon. Became an ultra hypocrite.

Seriously, I do not kid: For easily five minutes late yesterday afternoon (after my Stop SUGAR SHOCK! Radio Show), Karen -- my super-capable, ultra-smart, and very friendly assistant (whose blog posts you read here often) -- thought I'd succumbed to the depths of SUGAR SHOCK! (You know, the condition that I always rail against here and warn about in my book SUGAR SHOCK!)

"Shame on you," I'm sure she thought.

You see, Karen spied something that had absolutely no business being in my office! She saw a small chocolate-filled candy bar. That's right, a candy bar!

So yesterday, when she came over to pick up a bunch of packages to mail -- you know, books to give out as raffle prizes, to members of the media and reviewers -- she gets up her nerve.

First, poor Karen gives me this really funny look -- that can only be described as one of disdain and the complete opposite of admiration.

Then, she prepares herself for a confrontation with me. She crinkles her nose, breathes deeply and then quickly, fearfully blurts out:

"Connie, is that a Snickers Bar I see on the floor, below your desk?"

My reply: I laugh with glee. Honest!

"Yes, Karen, that is a Snickers bar. In fact, I'm in possession of not just one little candy bar, but a HUGE bag of tiny Snickers Bars!"

Wait. That's not all!

I then reveal my new, secret stash that I had bought the night before.

Indeed, I have so many candy bars and candies in my office that I could send at least half a dozen people into sugar shock!

I confess: My home office is brimming with candy -- at least six or seven different kinds. (I'll spare you the names -- they're in a plastic Duane Reade bag, with the ends tied into a knot, for now at least.)

Why, you want to know, would the "Ex-Sugar Shrew" and self-described "Sugar Liberator" have a huge horde of candies in her possession?

If truth be told, I'm doing research. In fact, if all goes the way I hope, you'll be seeing me on national TV soon discussing the results of my findings.

That's all I can reveal for now. Just keep your eyed moving towards this blog, because of course, you'll be the first to know as to why I now have a whole bunch of candy here, in my office.

Before I go, of course, you want to know: Was I tempted?

Put it this way: Buying a bunch of candy from Duane Reade was a very surreal experience. (Last time I bought candy was in the spring -- also for research).

Anyhow, yes, I had this slight twinge of desire. After all, I am human.

And I had the strangest feeling buying all this candy -- I felt in a sort of binge-buying mode.

But I did NOT act on my sugar temptations.

OK, I did eat one too many apples that evening. (But, of course, fruit has fiber, nutrients, etc. and in no way can be compared to naughty-for-me candy bars.)

So, stay tuned. You'll hear how I'll survive -- and thrive -- with all the candy in my closet. By the way, this is NOT something I'd recommend for you sugar addicts out there.

Remember, it's been nearly 10 years since I conquered my sugar habit. I've interviewed some 200 or more experts, and I've written a book about sugar's dangers.

So if I were going to slip, I'd have to face you! I'll let you know how it goes having candy in the closet! Later, of course.

Now, have some fun reading Karen's take on the whole Snickers scenario.

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Many thanks for spreading the word. Remember, this blog is for you, both sugar-addicted folks and those of you who are just plain curious. In short, everyone! So talk to us now.

Stay tuned for more fun posts: You see, I've decided that it would be fun to include more humorous and off-the-wall sugar -- or non-sugar ramblings -- here on the SUGAR SHOCK! Blog. Naturally, this way, you'll have more fun reading this sitetoo.

Note from Connie: Americans are continuing to grow fatter, but of course, that's no surprise to you. But now we have some frightening conclusions in the fourth annual F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2007 report from the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH). Indeed, this exhaustive study shows that Americans are continuing to bulge in unbecoming ways -- this despite the fact that 85 percent of us believe obesity is an epidemic. What gives, folks? Karen James updates us.

You can find out the scoop from numerous sources including ScienceDaily, the Los Angeles Times and MedPage Today like we did, but

Here are some of the key findings from the F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2007 report, which you also can learn about in ScienceDaily, the Los Angeles Times and MedPage Today like we did:

Obesity: Adults Keep Widening

• Adult obesity rates rose in 31 states last year -- the second year in a row for 22 of them.

• Mississippi not only topped the list, but it had the distinction of being the first state to reach an adult obesity rate of more than 30 percent (30.6 to be exact).

• Colorado, where adult obesity runs at 17.6 percent, get kudos for coming in as the leanest state. Nevertheless, that figure is still higher than 16.9 percent the previous year.

Obesity: Children Growing Bigger

• Washington, D.C., where 22.8 percent of kids ages 10 to 17 are overweight, leads the country in rates of childhood obesity

• Utah has the fewest overweight kids at 8.5 percent.

While these findings are quite dire, there is some hopeful news.

Hopeful News

• Nine states enacted laws in 2006-2007 that set nutritional standards for food sold in vending machines, school stores and bake sales. With those, 22 states now have guidelines for these products.

• Most Americans strongly support governmental-backed education programs that promote healthy living, provide low-cost access to exercise programs and reduce the marketing of unhealthy foods.

• The majority of Americans strongly approved of proposals to establish better nutrition in school lunches and to increase physical education in schools.

TFAH is a non-profit, non-partisan health advocacy organization working toward disease prevention and is headed by executive director Jeffrey Levi, Ph.D., who led his colleagues in producing the report.

Karen James for the SUGAR SHOCK! Blog