There are 800,000 new cases diagnosed annually in the United States, and this number is expected to rise. is a chronic disease that claims many lives each year. It is the number six killer in the USA today. While there is no cure, medical professionals are always looking for newer and more effective treatments. As with most chronic diseases, prevention is the best cure.

What Causes Diabetes?

Diabetes involves a person's metabolism. Basically, it is caused by the inability of one's pancreas to convert sugar in the food one eats into useful energy. This sugar then builds up in the bloodstream and internal organs, causing a variety of problems.

It is generally believed that sugar is bad for you. This is not exactly true. Actually, forms of sugar are found in nearly everything we eat, and our bodies require these sugars for energy. However, the kinds and amounts

Body's Response to Foods' Smell, Taste Could Be Diabetes Risk Factor (HealthDay)
HealthDay - THURSDAY, March 11 (HealthDay News) -- A mutation that affects how the body responds when a person smells or tastes food may play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes in some people, U.S. researchers report.
Big first trimester weight gain ups diabetes risk (Reuters)
Reuters - Women who gain weight too quickly during the first three months of pregnancy are more prone to develop pregnancy-related diabetes, new research shows.
Increasing Soda Consumption Fuels Rise in Diabetes, Heart Disease (HealthDay)
HealthDay - FRIDAY, March 5 (HealthDay News) --Increasing consumption of sugary soft drinks contributed to 130,000 new cases of diabetes, 14,000 new cases of heart disease and 50,000 more life-years burdened with heart disease in the last decade, a new U.S. study finds.
Processed Meat May Harm the Heart (HealthDay)
HealthDay - FRIDAY, March 5 (HealthDay News) -- Conventional wisdom has dictated that fat from red meat is a risk factor for heart disease, but a new analysis from Harvard researchers finds it's eating processed meat -- not unprocessed red meat -- that increases the risk for heart disease and even diabetes.
Bugs in the gut can cause obesity: study (AFP)
AFP - The bugs that help digest food may also cause the body to pack on the pounds if they are not properly regulated, a new study has found.
Bugs in the gut can cause obesity: study (AFP)
AFP - The bugs that help digest food may also cause the body to pack on the pounds if they are not properly regulated, a new study has found.
Lunchtime coffee break best for fighting diabetes (Reuters)
Reuters - Drinking coffee cuts diabetes risk, new research confirms, but you may need to enjoy your java with lunch if you want to get any benefit.
Whole Grains Take a Bite Out of Type 2 Diabetes Risk (HealthDay)
HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, March 3 (HealthDay News) -- Brown rice is better than white rice at reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, but whole grains are the most effective at lowering the risk, study findings show.
A1c diabetes test is a better indicator of risk (Reuters)
Reuters - A test that shows blood sugar levels over a span of several weeks is not only the best way to diagnose diabetes but also may be better at identifying who is at risk of getting diabetes than standard blood sugar tests, researchers said on Wednesday.
Newer Blood Test Predicts Diabetes, Heart Disease (HealthDay)
HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, March 3 (HealthDay News) -- The newer hemoglobin A1C test predicts diabetes as well as the traditional fasting blood sugar test, but it beats that old standard in predicting a patient's future risk of heart disease and stroke, new research shows.


of sugar people take in are important.

How Can I Avoid Getting Diabetes?

Recently, there has been a new concern among Americans to adopt healthier lifestyles and prevent diabetes. is often linked with heart disease. Keeping your heart healthy will help reduce the risk of diabetes. Make sure you get plenty of exercise. It is recommended that adults get their hearts pumping for at least twenty minutes three times per week. This is a minimum. You can do something as simple as jogging around the neighborhood or working out on an exercise machine in front of the TV. Just make sure it gets your heart pumping.

Weight is a factor in diabetes. If you are overweight, you are more at risk. The single best reason to diet and lose weight is your health. It may help to motivate you to imagine that you are not only getting into better shape and looking good, but also possibly saving your own life.

What you eat is also a factor. Foods that are high in cholesterol are risky. So are many kinds of animal fats, and refined starches and sugars. One way to eat healthier is to make sure you eat food from each food group. Eat breakfast every day and watch your portion sizes. Even if you eat healthy foods, don't over indulge.

There are a few lifestyle factors as well. If you get too little or too much sleep every night, you may be putting yourself at risk. Sleep helps to regulate glucose levels in the body. Smoking puts you at a higher risk, but new studies show that coffee and moderate amounts of alcohol may reduce the risk of becoming diabetic.

Finally, Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanics and Pacific Islanders have a higher risk of developing diabetes. If you belong to one of these groups, it is especially important to eat a healthy diet and make sure you exercise regularly, in order to help prevent diabetes.

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