Diabetes is a disease affecting two hormones -- insulin and glucagon. In healthy individuals insulin helps cells take up glucose from the blood when glucose levels are high and glucagon helps the liver release glucose into the bloodstream when glucose levels are low. In diabetes insulin release is diminished cell sensitivity to insulin can decrease and glucagon release is excessive. This can cause a vicious cycle of escalating blood glucose levels. Now researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Southern Research have discovered a new drug candidate that offers a major advance in the treatment for diabetes. The