Maybe I should try some of the Inositol I ordered from the US but then forgot why I did..

It was myoinositol(Jarrow formula) .. 750mg per capsule
I'll try them.. I think That's what this article is about??
that is, taking this myo-inositol should halp stop the damage I am getting to my eyes and the PN too?

Depletion of MI in diabetes is likely to be mediated by the increased expression of myo-Inositol oxygenase (MIOX), which is induced by sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol.

The first committed step in MI metabolism is catalyzed by the monooxygenase, MIOX, which occurs predominantly in the proximal tubular epithelial cells of the kidney cortex.

myo-Inositol treatment has been shown to have a beneficial effect in restoring the impaired motor nerve conduction velocity and disruption of structural elements in the nerve as a result of increased nerve cluster density

http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/full/280/20/19895

Osmotic stress (hyperglycemia and altered tonicity/saltiness) both seem to affect the production of this enzyme.

Maybe eyes/lens (in ageing) vision problems maybe due to post-meal short term hyperglycemia (and high levels of polyols (like mannitol).....

Also 'plays up' the kidneys....in diabetic nephropathy maybe?,.. need to check

Video on-demand: Adventures in vascular biology – Salvador Moncada FRS
May 2005. You have to scroll down list to May 2005 then click on LHJS to play in real, windows media etc.. your choice
Warning- technical and over 1 hr long (maybe 20 mins to 34 mins; 57 mins onwards -questions worth listening for quick listen)

Thirty years ago it was thought that the endothelium, a layer of thin, flat cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels was inert(no more than a cellophane like wrapping).
However, major discoveries since then have demonstrated that it is a highly metabolic organ involved in maintaining the equilibrium of the circulatory system. In fact it is so important that alterations in its behaviour can lead to vessel wall disease, causing conditions such as hypertension (elevated blood pressure), atheroscelrosis (hardening of the arteries) and thrombosis (blood clots). This event took place on May 10th 2005.

http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/portals/moncada/msh.htm
This video (click on Adventures in vascular biology), then play.
Explains how small doses of aspirin works (by inhibiting platelets), why COX2 inhibitors cause blood pressure to rise and yet aspirin doesn't(COX-2 inhibitors may lead to prostocyclin inhibition causing cardiovascular side effects).
Note VIOXX is withdrawn due to its cardiovascular side effects- ie. it has caused heart attacks

Kawasaki Disease's Cardiovascular Effects Not Ameliorated by Corticosteroid Pulse

Patients with Kawasaki disease did not benefit from the addition of a pulsed dose of corticosteroid to standard therapy, researchers report in today's New England Journal of Medicine.

Some 200 children with the disease were randomized to receive either a pulsed intravenous dose of methylprednisolone given over 2 to 3 hours or placebo infusion. All patients also received standard therapy with immune globulin and aspirin.

At weeks 1 and 5 after randomization, measurements of the patients' coronary arteries -- the primary outcome of the study -- showed no differences between groups. Corticosteroid-treated children had slightly shorter initial hospital stays and a lower median erythrocyte sedimentation rate at week 1.

The author of an accompanying perspective writes that "the failure of corticosteroids to benefit these patients underscores the difference between Kawasaki disease and other chronic vasculitides, for which corticosteroids are the foundation of most treatment strategies."

http://www.realskincare.com.au/Plastic-plagues.html

pls read on link above, copy only below for search purposes

Note:  Mercola also mentions antimony in PET bottles.. use glass wherever possible
http://vitalvotes.com/blogs/public_blog/More-Reasons-You-Should-NOT-Rely-on-Bottled-Water-5015.aspx

Plastic Plagues

Australians consume more than 1.3 million tones of plastic each
year – more than 71kg per person! Much of our food and drink comes in contact with plastic everyday, but not all plastics are safe. While plastic food wraps and containers can be important in protecting our food, recent studies show that when certain plastics come into contact with foods, some questionable chemicals migrate from the packaging to the foods. Here we outline what you need to know about the types of plastics, the issues with plastics, and some tips for avoiding the ‘plastic plague'.  And see below for our Safe Plastics Quick Reference Guide which you can stick on your fridge!

Know Your 7 Plastic Codes:

Code #1 - PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
Typical Product Application : Soft drink bottles, medicine containers
Recyclable? Yes

Code #2 - HDPE (high density polyethylene)
Typical Product Application : Toys, bottles for milk, water, detergent, shampoo, motor oil
Recyclable? Yes

Code #3 - PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
Typical Product Application : cordial, cooking oil, shampoo & detergent bottles, p ipe & tubing, meat wrap.
Recyclable? Yes

Code #4 - LDPE (low density polyethylene)
Typical Product Application : Soft, flexible plastic as used in garbage bags, wrapping films, grocery bags
Recyclable? No.

Code #5 - PP ( polypropylene)
Typical Product Application : Hard, but flexible. Used in ice-cream & yogurt containers, potato crisp bags, drinking straws, syrup bottles, diapers
Recyclable? No.

Code #6 - PS ( polystyrene)
Typical Product Application : Rigid, brittle plastic. Coffee cups, take-out food containers, meat trays, plastic cutlery
Recyclable? No.

Code #7 - Other (including polycarbonate, nylon and acrylic)
Typical Product Application : Baby's bottles
Recyclable? No

Understand Plastics Impact on your Health and the Environment:

Plastics Impact Our Personal Health -

a) Dioxins. Dioxins, which are highly poisonous even at low doses, are produced when plastics are manufactured and incinerated. Various official reports have concluded that dioxins have the potential to produce an array of adverse health effects in humans, including hormone and immune system disruption, skin diseases and cancer.

b) Phthalates. Phthalates are “plasticizers” linked to a variety of birth defects and is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen . Most cling-wrapped meats, cheeses and other foods bought from shops are wrapped in PVC. The "plasticizers" are used in the manufacture of #3 PVC plastic to soften it into its flexible form. Traces of these chemicals, known as adipates and phthalates, can leak out of PVC when it comes in contact with foods. Phthalates are also widely used in cosmetics and beauty products, including nail polish.

c) Bisphenol A .  Plastic food and drinks containers are a great concern due to the safety issue around low-dose effects of bisphenol A (BPA). Bisphenol A (BPA) was invented in the 1930s during the search for synthetic estrogens. Many #7 polycarbonate bottles are made with bisphenol A (BPA). It is the chemical used to make hard, clear plastics such as those found in baby bottles, food-storage containers and the lining of soft drink cans. BPA is also used in the manufacture of epoxy resins and various other plastics. Chemical bonds that BPA forms in plastic can unravel when heated, washed or exposed to acidic foods, or as the container ages generally. This creates chemical contamination of the food or drink. Many studies have evaluated BPA as a hormone disruptor, a chemical that alters the body's normal hormonal activity. Our bodies are extremely sensitive to sex hormones, and miniscule amounts can induce profound changes.

d) Antimony .  In an effort to be healthier, we are turning to bottled water on mass. The purity of the water in these commercial waters brands bottle aside, the leaching effect of plastic into water may be an issue. #1 PETE plastic water bottles have been shown to leach antimony into water. It is important to remember that leaving water in any plastic bottle for a prolonged period of time allows for chemical leaching to occur.

Plastics Impact Our Environment -

a) Plastics contribute to a huge amount of solid waste. While plastic recycling continues to grow, there is still significant waste. And not all plastics can be recycled.
b) There are certainly environmental problems associated with plastics, as the toxic emissions are created from the manufacturing process.
c) P lastic polymers never fully biodegrade, and ultimately break down into toxic dust which recycles into our food chain .
d) Plastics are made of petroleum, a valuable non-renewable resource.

Tips for Reducing Your Toxic Plastic Exposure:

1) Store your food and water in glass or stainless steel if at all possible.

2) If you can't use glass, only use one of the above "safe" plastic jars.  Safer plastics for storing food & beverages = #2 HDPE, #4 LDPE, and #5 PP . Most research has not shown leaching of any carcinogens or endocrine disruptors from these plastics.

3) If you use a #1 PETE container (which is a commonly recycled type), remember they are not usually designed for re-use. Extended use will increase risk of leaching. Also their design lends itself to harboring of bacterial growth.

4) Avoid Risky Plastics--#3 PVC, #6 PS, and #7 Other (usually Polycarbonate ) .  Found in some clear food packaging , #3 PVC, the second most commonly used plastic in the world, is a toxic plastic dangerous both to our health and to the environment. NEVER use Styrofoam cups , especially for hot drinks. Polystyrene, #6 PS, is usually found in foam containers and cups may leach styrene. Styrene, considered a possible human carcinogen, may also disrupt hormones or affect reproduction.  If you use baby bottles , know that around 95% of all baby bottles are currently made of polycarbonate (#7). Switch to polycarbonate-free baby bottles, like those manufactured from glass or from #5 PP, or consider using glass bottles when ever practical. And d on't microwave your baby' plastic bottles !

5) Avoid heating food in plastic containers

6) Avoid storing fatty foods, such as meat and cheese, in plastic containers or plastic wrap

7) Bring your own containers and cups to shops where you'll be served in plastic

8) Avoid plastic cutlery and dinnerware, especially when cooking or heating food

9) Use wood instead of plastic cutting boards and spray your wooden board with a mist of vinegar, then with a mix of hydrogen peroxide, to kill bacteria

10) When purchasing cling-wrapped food from the supermarket or deli, slice off a thin layer where the food came into contact with the plastic and store the rest in a glass or ceramic container, or non-PVC cling wrap

11) Get a good quality, non-plastic, reusable water bottle (eg: such as a SIGG bottle. These are aluminum with an inert water based internal lining). Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Want to know more?
Click here for our Safe Plastics Quick Reference Guide - pop it on your fridge !
Click here for full Green Guide report on the harzards of plastic containers
Click here for EWG report on Phthalates /plasticizers
Click here for article: Extensive New Literature Concerning Low-Dose Effects of Bisphenol A .
click here for article in the USA Today newspaper: Debate over a leaching chemical heats up.