epidimiology study now being conducted by the Bermuda Diabetes Association and urges others who are selected to jump at the opportunity. "There is a history of diabetes in my family so when they approached me about it I was very keen to do it,'' she said. "I had a broken leg and couldn't get to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) so they came to question me at my home. It made me think about what I was doing and I became aware of my bad habits; maybe I wasn't exercising enough or watching my diet enough.'' Mrs. Morrell said the lab tests, conducted at the Hospital at later date, were simple with no pain at all. Even the two-hour wait during the testing sped by, she added. "They provided videos about exercises which were really funny. They made me laugh.

Normally people try to scare you into good behaviour, but they joked us into good behaviour.'' And since then, she said, she has changed her entire lifestyle, incorporating those activities suggested by project volunteers.

"I've made really simple changes in my diet and habits, even with my family.

Evenings, we go for walks around the park, and I've lost quite a bit of weight and feel much healthier. "Also, the entire family used to be terrible snackers but it's so easy to wean off things that are not good for you. I just simply thought, `This product contains a lot of fat,' and by not eating as much fat, you don't want as much.'' Just as important as what one eats, she stressed, is portion size. "I've also changed the proportions of what we eat, changed my cooking oils and generally am just more aware of what we are actually eating. My son was getting a bit chubby and he's lost a lot of weight also. It's healthier for all of us and none of us feel we've lost anything. We still snack, just in smaller sizes and we've gained a healthier outlook on life.'' For all these reasons she believes the epidimiology study can only benefit individuals in the long run as they adjust their habits to lead more healthy lives. And where there is a family, there is that domino effect. "I just recommend anybody approached by the study who decides that they can't do it because of whatever reason, to do it. It's not like, `Oh my God, I'm going to have diabetes.' It's more a positive than a negative thing. "It's not hard work. It's not painful and it won't take huge amounts of time. I applaud the Diabetes Association and would be delighted to be involved in any more of their studies.'' HEALTH HTH