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Diabetes is something that most people try to avoid though the common belief is that it is likely to cover mostly the big and fat people.

In a way that could be true but if one digs deeper, diabetes is not necessarily limited to the fact. The risks may be higher but the fact of the matter is that even the fit and slender individuals are not totally exempted from diabetes.

Someone who can attest to this is Dr. Ronesh Sinha who holds clinic at Redwood, California. During the early part of his medical training, he studied patients diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. Back then, he found it affecting mostly middle-aged who had were prone to consuming junk food and had no mode of exercise.

But now, it comes as a surprise to him that even the fit and slender ones who follow an active lifestyle are not totally safeguarded against Diabetes Mellitus.

Asian-Americans have been singled out as the ones who could be prone to diabetes or develop it. Genetics is seen as one factor though it is not limited to that alone.

Asians have been found to be at a higher risk of getting diabetes which could start at younger ages or even lower weights than others. Hence, it could be one reason why diagnosing it comes at an odd time, normally in the latter years of people under this class.

With the timing of discovering the risk of people (especially Asian-Americans) having diabetes, doctors are trying to do their share by trying to increase awareness on diabetes though testing and treatment particularly for Asian-Americans (Chinese, Indians and Filipinos).

Diabetes, the disease known as the seventh most common cause of death, could eventually lead to blindness, amputation and strokes. It can however be prevented if addressed in timely fashion.

"We began with diabetes is not a big problem in the Asian community" to now thinking "simply being Asian is a risk factor," said Dr. Edward Chow via the LA Times.

A lesson here is that one cannot rely on the common practice of so-called healthy living. That includes proper dieting and exercise, two of the more popular things health buffs follow. It is still best to go through it with some professional guidance and not assume that one is totally healthy and free from possible diabetes. It goes way beyond that.

"We've got to be suspicious even if somebody looks normal," Chow added.