Diabetes can be prevented. Do you know how? Surprise: Diet and exercise.

According to the website HealthyUpdates.com, about 54 million American adults have pre-diabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetes. These people can prevent their conditions from evolving into type 2 diabetes by employing these three strategies.

1. Eating right. Studies show an increase in fiber, whole grains, and cereal can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.

2. Moving. Exercise can reduce insulin resistance.

3. Losing Weight. Exercise plus weight loss cuts the risk of developing diabetes, says data from the National Institutes of Health's Diabetes Prevention Program. It only takes a loss of four to six percent of body weight to make a difference.

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After playing with a friend's Nintendo DS a few days ago, I could not help but come away impressed. You see, the friend is a middle-aged person that's not a game player.

What was he playing? Brain Age 2, a non-game for the portable game player that has its sights set on helping memory skills in anyone that wants it.

The 'game' features quite a few brain teasers that I thought were very challenging. The execution of all of them (especially the Sudoku game) was excellent, and it's another reason why more people outside the regular gaming community opt for gaming systems like the Wii and DS game systems. Nintendo continues to impress me.

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Did you know worms live longer when they are unable to process the simple sugar glucose? Sure enough. And this finding, published in the October issue of Cell Metabolism, may mean for humans that glucose could have a negative effect on life span. Study of these little worms may have other human implications too.

Already, researchers think their findings cast some doubt on traditional Type 2 diabetes treatments, all of which target lowering blood levels of glucose by increasing the amount of sugar taken up by body tissues. Questions are also being raised about the widespread use of antioxidant supplements -- antioxidants and vitamins given to the worms canceled out the life-extending benefits of sugar deprivation.

While banishing refined sugar is definitely a wise idea -- surely, we all agree on that, right? -- no one recommends tossing the multivitamins just yet. I mean, we're talking worms here. Still, some good food for thought, don't you think?

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The debate on whether coffee is good or bad for you has been lobbed back and forth on That's Fit with everything under the sun being discussed including Adams Briscoe's post on how coffee may raise cholesterol and Maggie Vink's discussion on coffee reducing your risk of getting a certain eye disorder.

At the risk of being torn apart by brew-lovers everywhere, I have to admit that I'm not a big fan. Tea has always been my hot, caffeinated beverage of choice. So with my unbiased view I bring all of you fans of a moderate (yep moderate) amount of coffee good news. According to this, a cup (or even a few) a day is pretty darn good for you. The piece states that various studies have found:

• Coffee reduces your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes
• Coffee lowers your risk of getting liver cancer
• Caffeinated drinks including coffee lower the chances of getting Parkinson's and Alzheimer's
• Drinking coffee may reduce the risk of colon cancer, asthma and cirrhosis of the liver
• Coffee aids with endurance in activities such as swimming, running and cycling

So go ahead and enjoy your morning cuppa!

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A few weeks ago I posted Hey Smokers! This is what your friends won't tell you. and boy did I get some feedback. You know, I wrote it kind of harshly...it is true. It's just one of those things that stick in my craw. This is a blog and AOL welcomes us to be opinionated. It is what it is. I hate smoking. Smoking is not one of those deals that effects just the person doing it; everyone surrounding the smoker is affected. But, what inspired me to write the article was all of my friends who are former smokers.

Across the board, they all are disgusted by smoking now. They also say that they "had no idea how offensive they were being, how gross it smells......even from far away, and also how nasty it looks". Go talk to someone who has already kicked the habit. They probably had no idea how offensive they were. Look, my job is to promote fitness. Most of the time I do it with a happy face, cheerful voice, and congratulating air. Every now and then it's time for straight talk. That's what that blog was all about.

Some people respond to loving hand holding. Some people respond to the harsh truth. If you visit the comment section of that blog, you'll see the suspected replies of "Gee it's my habit, and it's not hurting anyone but me." "I've tried to quit but it's an addiction, none of the remedies actually ever work, woe is me, blah blah blah". I even got cursed out a few times. Oh well. Some accused me of 'hating them'. Nope. I hate smoking. Lots of terrific people smoke, and that's also pretty frusterating.

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