Patti LaBelle is on the TV singing about how a certain glucose monitor changed everything. "Back then, food was the enemy," she says. My mind flashes to a host of studies I've come across recently touting different foods as the "cure." I can't help but see the humor in it.

We all know diabetes and food are so closely linked that often it's hard to deal with daily diabetic life without feeling like you have a major eating disorder. And while these new studies shouldn't give anyone a license to eat with abandon, it's nice to see research money being spent investigating food and nutrition, instead of new drugs.

Here's a look at some of my favorite new finds:

Chips and dip. Mexican scientists discovered blue corn tortilla chips have properties that make them healthier for dieters and diabetics. Add some black soy bean dip for an even more diabetes-friendly snack.

Chocolate. Hands down my favorite food, chocolate is rich in heart-healthy compounds and may help treat diabetes, multiple studies show. Bring on the Lindt dark chocolate truffles!

Pumpkin pie. OK, maybe not the pie itself, but a recent study reveals pumpkin shows promise in treating diabetes. And of course, don't forget the cinnamon to help lower blood sugar.

Salad. So it may not be the most exciting of foods, and it's certainly the wackiest headline by far, researchers purport to have found the cure for diabetes in lettuce. Upon first look, this study sounds absolutely absurd. But, like with most things diabetes, when Gretchen Becker explains it, it actually sounds promising. (Trust me, just read the link...I couldn't possibly explain it any better!)