Researchers at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta studied data from over 25,000 adults ages 35 to 65. They found that never smoking, having a body mass index lower than 30, doing physical activity for at least three and a half hours per week and following a healthy diet reduces the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 93 percent.
 
These four factors also showed an 81 percent reduced risk of heart attack, 50 percent reduced risk of stroke and 36 percent reduced risk of cancer. According to the author, "This research confirms what we already know - a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a healthy weight is the key to reducing the risk of long term health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes." The study appears in the Archives of Internal Medicines.

This article originally appeared in the December 2009 issue of Kidney Beginnings: The Electronic Newsletter.