Karl Marx, born on 5 May, 1818, nearly two centuries ago, had in 1867 laid bare the ``intimate connection between the pangs of hunger of the most industrious layers of the working class, and the extravagant consumption, coarse or refined, of the rich, for which capitalist accumulation is the basis'' (Capital Vol. 1, Ch. 25). In May 2008, nearly a century and a half later, as we hear Emperor Bush hold forth on global hunger, we are reminded that capitalism and global wealth remains just as intimately wedded to hunger.

The global policeman Bush, in the time-honoured traditions of the backyard bully, has long harboured the habit of dictating to nations who their friends and enemies should be. Now, he has taken to telling nations how much they should eat, and of wagging a disapproving finger at poor nations whose middle class has made some improvements in its diet.

"There is good clinical evidence that at every age and every situation the insulin pump is successful, however insulin is only one part of a successful Diabetes management strategy," observed Professor Battelino.

Professor Battelino of the University Medical Centre of Ljubljana in Slovenia was speaking to more than 100 Abu Dhabi-based medical professionals at Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC). He stressed the radical developments in insulin pump therapy and importance of carbohydrate counting.

"It is very important to ensure that individual eating patterns are in rhythm with prescribed insulin therapy," he said. Meanwhile, Wafa Ayesh, Head of Clinical Nutrition at Dubai's Rashid Hospital, supported Professor Battelino's observations stressing the importance of carbohydrate counting.

She said that an easy method now assigns each food item with a 'point value' based on the amount of carbohydrates contained, therefore stream-lining the process for the patient. "However, we continue to find that patients are confused about what constitutes a carbohydrate.

"Patients bring me a box and point out that it reads 'sugar free' on it. I have to explain that there are things other than sugar which are carbohydrates, such as potatoes and wheat," said Ms Ayesh.

Professor Battelino confirmed the recently-launched, Internet-based monitoring component of the insulin pump therapy. "This will play a vital role in the treatment of Diabetes as it provides healthcare professionals with direct and up-to-the-minute information, such as blood glucose levels," he concluded.

As India edges closer to what is probably the last year of field trials for Bt Brinjal (eggplant, aubergine) before commercial approval may be granted, large scale resistance has been building up all over the country.

Bt Brinjal, if allowed in India, would be the first food crop in the world with the Bt gene inserted into it that is to be directly consumed by human beings. Indians feel that they are about to be made guinea pigs by USAID, and by Monsanto and Cornell University that have developed this crop.

The UN's new top adviser on food has urged a freeze on biofuel investment, saying the blind pursuit of the policy is "irresponsible".

Olivier de Schutter also wants curbs on investors whose speculation is, he says, driving food prices higher.

UN officials liken the rise in food prices to a silent tsunami, threatening 100 million of the world's poorest.

The use of food crops for alternative sources of energy like ethanol is one factor behind the price hike.

Mr de Schutter did not go quite as far as his predecessor in the job, Jean Ziegler, the BBC's Laura Trevelyan reports from New York.

Mr Ziegler had condemned biofuels as a "crime against humanity" and called for an immediate ban on their use.