Brand-new diabetes advice

We've known forever that a lowfat diet can protect against cardiovascular disease--now there's evidence suggesting that it fights diabetes too.

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, found that overdoing it on fatty foods appears to suppress the action of GnT-4a, the single gene that controls the production of the hormone insulin, which keeps blood sugar (glucose) levels in check.

Consistently elevated glucose is the hallmark of diabetes. "The results of the study, which was done on mice, have the potential to explain how diet influences the development of type II diabetes in people," says study author Jamey Marth, Ph.D. Scientists are now trying to find out why the gene fails--and how to correct it.

But you don't have to wait to take action: Trimming the fat out of your diet is an overall healthy move.--S.R.