According to their religion, Seventh-Day Adventists abstain from meat, tobacco and alcohol. Such a community provided researchers at Loma Linda University in California an ideal setting for investigating the effects of a vegetarian diet on glucose control.

More than 7,000 African American congregants participated in the Adventist Health Study-2, which divided them into vegans, who do not consume any animal products, and lacto-ovo vegetarians, who eat dairy and eggs.

Results showed that compared to non-vegetarian blacks, the vegans had 70 percent better measurements for blood sugar. For lacto-ovo vegetarians, it was 53 percent more optimal. The researchers speculate that this may be due to the nature of the food the subjects ate. Fruits and vegetables provide plenty of fiber, while whole grains and legumes support more efficient glycemic control. These results were supported by another study that included more than 34,000 non-black members of the religion.

Furthermore, black subjects who exercised three or more times a week also had 35 percent better control of their blood sugar compared to individuals who exercised once a week or less, as published in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases.

Because of the growing number of American children with higher body mass indices, more young people are having difficulty maintaining a healthy weight and controlling their blood sugar. However, these kids may benefit from more aerobic exercises, including dance, according to the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, which formed a partnership with a grade school in Philadelphia.

As part of that partnership, a local high school dance team taught hip hop to grade school students for one hour every week for a month. Pedometers worn by children indicated that dance classes made them take twice the number of steps they would normally take any other day. Meanwhile, people in the community received more education on the health benefits of good nutrition and exercise.

"Dancing is not only free, culturally relevant, and fun," said Terri Lipman, Ph.D., CRNP. "It is also an easily accessible way for children to lead a more active lifestyle. Through this program, we aim to promote to schools and healthcare providers the benefits of incorporating dance into children's lives to improve their overall health."

"They can enjoy Halloween and enjoy some of the sweets the holiday offers – within reason," said Kenneth McCormick, M.D., a pediatric endocrinologist. "We give parents and kids three options and let them decide how they want to handle Halloween and the sweets that come with it."

First, children can count the number of carbohydrates they consume in their candy to help decide what is appropriate. Furthermore, these treats can be eaten for dessert after dinner rather than as an ordinary snack.

One of the more successful methods of making sure a child's blood sugar stays healthy during Halloween is for parents to bargain. Instead of allowing a kid to actually eat the candy he or she collected, parents can trade prizes, money or low-carbohydrate snacks for their child's sweets, McCormick said.

For the rest of the year, there are several natural ways a child can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels, including eating a well-rounded diet and staying physically active, according to the National Institutes of Health. Any medication prescribed by a doctor should also be taken faithfully.

A recent study published in the journal PLoS One found that a flavonoid found in strawberries may help promote good health in mice that have blood sugar imbalances.

"In plants, flavonoids act as sunscreens and protect leaves and fruit from insects. As foods they are implicated in the protective effect of the 'Mediterranean Diet,'" said lead researcher Pam Maher.

Although the laboratory rodents that were treated with the compound, call fistein, did not achieve balanced blood sugar levels, they showed reduced amounts of proteins in their urine, indicating an improvement in kidney health.

The researchers said that the flavonoid may help promote the production of an enzyme, which in turn regulates proteins in the body that contribute to inflammation.

The scientists said that they hope to conduct future trials on humans, who would need to consume 37 strawberries daily in order to receive the same amounts of fistein that was fed to the laboratory rodents.

The experiment, which was conducted on diabetic rats, showed that YQZMT had beneficial effects similar to those of the current diabetes drug rosiglitazone. Both of these treatments were found to possess insulin-sensitizing properties. However, the study investigators noted that while rosiglitazone caused weight gain in the test animals, YQZMT did not.

According to statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of Americans struggle with blood sugar concerns and have a hard time maintaining healthy levels.

Moreover, an estimated 35 percent of adults who are over the age of 20 have prediabetes. These individuals have high blood glucose levels, which are not at the level classified as diabetic. The CDC notes that national studies have shown that individuals who lose weight and increase their physical activity may lower their blood glucose and help promote healthy blood sugar metabolism and insulin efficiency.

An article published by Fox News cited a study published in HerbalGram, the Journal of the American Botanical Council, which indicated that Americans spend more than $5.2 billion on herbal supplements annually. Products like flax seed oil, wheat and barley grass juices, aloe vera, turmeric, cranberry, soy and ginkgo account for much of these sales.

The news provider discussed several studies that found supplements containing beetroot and the herb hawthorne may be viable methods for improving heart health.

The news source reported that these natural options promote blood vessel flexibility to help promote healthy blood pressure and improve circulation.

In addition, some research has indicated that consuming 200 grams of acai fruit pulp daily may help balance cholesterol, blood sugar and insulin levels, the news organization said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 630,000 Americans die each year due to heart disease.

According to the Naitonal Institutes of Health, more than 60 percent of Americans are overweight or obese.

However, a recent study published in the journal PLoS One indicated that an amino acid found in protein may help balance blood sugar levels in laboratory rodents that consume high-fat, Western-style diets.

The study's results showed that mice fed a high-fat diet containing double the typical amount of the amino acid leucine had improved blood sugar levels and fewer signs of fat buildup in their liver.

"The impact on the animals on the high-fat diet, even though it didn't change how fat they got, was that their bodies were able to handle glucose better," said lead researcher C. Ronald Kahn.

The investigators said that although these findings have not been proven in humans, they are hopeful that their work may someday improve the health of the high number of overweight and obese people in the U.S.

The test can distinguish if a type 1 or type 2 diabetic's body is still producing its own insulin, regardless of whether or not the person is taking outside insulin injections.

Some rare genetic forms of diabetes can also be detected with the urine test, which may reveal any misdiagnosed cases.

"The urine test offers a practical alternative to blood testing, as the urine test can be done in the patient's own home. We hope that it will be taken up more readily, and more patients can be correctly diagnosed and be offered the correct treatment," lead researcher Rachel Besser, B.Sc., said.

Many people with type 2 diabetes can control their blood glucose by following a healthy meal plan and exercise program.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in a three-year study of individuals with type 2 diabetes, weight loss and increased physical activity reduced the progression of the disease by 58 percent across all ethnic backgrounds.

The researchers fed laboratory rodents food high in both fat and sugar. However, half of the subjects were also provided with regular servings of Nobiletin.

Results showed that animals in the first group had become obese, as anticipated, and showed signs of metabolic syndrome, which include high blood levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin and glucose, as well as fatty liver. The investigators noted that people who have these symptoms are at an increased risk for becoming diabetic or developing heart disease.

However, rats that belonged to the fruit subset only gained small increments of weight and did not show any signs of insulin resistance or cardiovascular risk factors, according to the study's findings.

"In longer-term studies, Nobiletin also protected these animals from atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in arteries, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke," said lead researcher Murray Huff.

The scientist also noted that similar, though not as effective compounds, have been found in grapefruits.

"The results tell us that saturated fat interferes with the body's ability to clear sugars from the blood and, when combined with caffeinated coffee, the impact can be even worse," said lead researcher Marie-Soliel Beaudoin.

Healthy bodies typically respond to increases blood sugar levels by producing insulin, the investigator explained. This helps distribute the glucose to muscles and limit the amount of time that organs are exposed to it.

The findings showed that the participants' blood sugar levels increased 32 percent after eating a high-fat meal. However, these levels spiked 65 percent in subjects who also drank beverages high in caffeine.

The researchers noted that the combination also affected the "communications" between the participants' guts and pancreases, which they said could result in insulin resistance over time. Thus, these findings may be significant to individuals who are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.