Debbie Jones, dedicated coordinator of the new diabetes clinic in the new wing of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, answers practical questions about diabetes.

What are the top three most significant lifestyle patterns affecting a person with diabetes? "Drinking excessive amounts of drinks with lots of hidden sugar. For example, Sobe has 18 teaspoons of sugar .

One can of soda has nine teaspoons of sugar .'' "Eating high fat foods such as: hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, meat pies, fast food chicken dinners, pizzas, chicken nuggets, ice cream, cookies, chocolate bars, rather than eating fruits and vegetables. Children take lunchables to school and then eat a fast food dinner and families may only serve vegetables on Sundays! "Little to no exercise. Using the car or bike to travel and never walking anywhere. Watching an excessive amount of television and becoming a "couch potato.'' Why does Bermuda have a high rate of diabetes? "Heredity, overweight, inactivity, and poor eating habits.

Bermuda knows it has a high rate of diabetes because we have done our epidemiology study. In countries where they have done similar studies they are finding similar results to ours.

"Jamaica did a study and found their rate of diabetes to be slightly higher.

The rate of diabetes in certain ethnic communities such as North America Indian has an even higher rate of diabetes. For example, the Pima Indians of Arizona have an incidence of 50 to 75%.'' Exactly how does exercise affect a diabetic? "When people exercise they use muscles and muscles require energy in order to perform. Therefore, when someone goes for a long walk or run, swim, bike ride or other aerobic activity their muscles require energy to allow them to do these activities.

"Muscles get energy from the blood glucose circulating in the blood stream.

If there is already a higher than normal range of sugar in the blood, that sugar will be directed to the muscles and the person can expect their blood sugar to be lower after the exercise. If someone starts off with a normal blood sugar and exercises, their liver will supply them with energy.'' What is the case for prevention? "The prevalence of diabetes is rising worldwide. Today there are about 120 million people with diabetes worldwide. This number is predicted to rise, in both developed and developing countries, to almost 300 million by the year 2025. A diabetes epidemic is already underway and is forecast to grow over the next century.

"Prevention is crucial. While people with diabetes will continue to require hospital care, community care can be more effective in identifying, preventing, or delaying diabetes and its complications.

"Diabetes is a serious and life-threatening condition. Diabetics and their families know how costly it is in human terms. The resources available to meet health care cost is challenging. The case for prevention rests on these facts.'' Deborah Jones, a key leader at the diabetic clinic, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, teaches patients everyday. Education is a key to fighting and maintaining diabetes.