Pining for a diabetes cure

If you have type 2 diabetes, you may be interested to know that there may be something you can eat to help keep your blood glucose levels under control. Just don't get grossed out when you find out that something is tree bark.

A new study published in the May 2008 edition of the journal of Nutrition Research shows Pycnogenol, an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, reduces blood sugar in type 2 diabetes patients. What's more, this somewhat magical bark also showed promise for people with other diabetes-related health risks, such as cardiovascular disease.

A breakthrough of this kind, provided further testing also produces similar results, could affect the lives of the estimated 20 million people in the U.S. living with type 2 diabetes, serving as a potent adjunct to prescription medication.