Sugar stabilizers: learn to prevent diabetes naturally.(Ask The Doctor)

Luckily, there's a lot you can do. First of all, many studies have found daily exercise an effective tool in preventing type 2 diabetes. While your weekend warrior ways can have a significant benefit--any exercise is better than none--adding just 10 minutes of activity 2-3 times a day will help even more. Walk your children to the playground, or take a stroll around the block during lunch or after dinner.

Nutrition plays a large role in the prevention of diabetes. Avoid simple carbohydrates such as sodas, sugar, breads and pastas made from white flour and highly processed foods. Reach for more foods made with whole grains (see "Eat Smart: Grains & Cereals," p. 30).

A good tool to use when choosing foods is the glycemic index (GI), which describes the quality of carbohydrates in foods, specifically their effect on blood sugar. The index ranges from 0 (pure protein sources such as chicken breasts), to 100 (pure carbs such as glucose). The higher the ranking, the more sugar a food delivers to the bloodstream. Foods ranked lower than 55 are considered low-GI foods; 70+ are high-GI foods.

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