Preventing Diabetes

I've read more than once that genetics will pre-determine 50% of future problems. In other words, let's say you do everything right: diet, exercise, don't smoke, moderate or no drinking, etc. That total up to 50% protection against major illnesses like Diabetes, Multple Sclerosis, Cancer, or Heart Conditions. Genetics, like it or not, is the other 50%.

Diabetes is one of the things that runs in my family. Diabetes is a condition in which the body is unable to regulate the level of sugar/glucose in the blood. As this relates to fitness; the higher percentage of body fat, it takes a larger amount of insulin (which is released by the pancreas to control sugar levels in the blood) to keep glucose level within a normal range. The kidney works to filter the blood sugar as well, but when the blood sugar reaches too high a level, the kidney cannot reabsorb all of it.

This is a pre-diabetic state. At this point, diet and exercise and weight loss can help regulate the blood sugar levels. If a diabetic state is reached, medication must be taken to increase insulin

production, or additional insulin must be administered to the body. Obviously, you want to do everything to avoid this.

Diabetes causes damage of small blood vessels, which can lead to blindness, kidney failure,

strokes, or heart attack. The best way to prevent is through diet and exercise. If you are pre-diabetic, a consultation with a nutritionist is a good idea to get a detailed "do's and don'ts" concerning your diet.

Krav Maga

One of the things I always preach about fitness is variety. Anything you do too long, at the same intensity and duration, will get stale. With that precept in mind, I have been taking classes in self-defense this summer that I found very interesting.
I consider it no-frills self-defense: a variety of punches, some kicks, blocks, and a bunch of body weight exercises mixed in for "fun." It's actually basic Krav Maga, the martial art system invented by the Israeli Defense Forces in the late 1940's, that blends styles from many other martial-arts disciplines. At its essense, it's about responding quickly to an attack, using whatever method creates the best opportunity for you to repel it.
Drills we do include lying on the floor, holding off some one, getting up and attacking; Fighting off two attackers at once; evading someone rushing at you; etc. You can practice with a friend with just a pad and a pair of boxing gloves. Think of any attack scenario and ways to thwart it:
fingers to the throat, fingers to the eye, kick to the knee, anything! Practice the moves you feel most comfortable with, and hopefully, if you ever need it, you would have the confidence to
defend yourself.
One thing they say in class: fight as if a family member, not you, was being attacked. Think about it: you'd protect a family member with anything and everything you have: that's the essence of Krav Maga!