There are many simple things one can do to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and most come down to eating well and being active.

Eat Normally:  Ingesting three meals a day at about  the same time each day, along with planned snacks if need be, will help to keep blood sugar levels well balanced.  Drinking more water can help by quenching your thirst without the extra sugars in pop, most juices and coffee.

Curb the Sugar Tooth:  Try to reduce the sugar you pump into your system with candy, pop, chocolate, pastries, preservatives and desserts.  Try a sugar alternative, like artificial sweeteners or limit sugar intake.

Cut the Fat:  If there was one thing that could convince someone that ingesting too much high cholesterol, sodium-filled and oily foods was a bad idea, diabetes would do it.  Heart health is just as important in diabetes prevention.

Eat More Fibre:  Including more whole grains and fibre in your diet will help with satiety levels (help you feel more full) while helping to lower sugar and fat levels in the body as well.  Try adding lentils, beans, peas, vegetables and fruit, or wild rice.

Exercise More:  People who exercise 2.5 hours a week drastically reduce their risk of developing diabetes because their blood sugar levels are better regulated.  Through proper exercise, blood pressure levels, triglycerides and cholesterol levels are kept in check.

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not since sliced bread

To look to surgery as a convenient method of dealing with an epidemic means it is becoming a gravely serious matter.  Unfortunately in Canada, only several thousand weight loss operations are done each year due to procedure cost and the lack of capable surgeons.  Though this new procedure is definitely good news for diabetics, fixing an epidemic this way will certainly take some time.
      
Sources:
The Globe and Mail
CTV
Journal of the American Medical Association
New York Times
Canadian Health Network
Health Canada