SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Fitness magazine, in its April edition, reports on nine surprising diabetes risk factors. They are:

1. Watching two or more hours of TV daily.Raises your risk: 14 percent How: More TV equals less activity. The fix: Limit TV time to 10 hours a week and exercise.

2. Drinking one soda a dayRaises your risk: 83 percent How: Soda adds extra and empty calories, which can easily lead to weight gain. The fix: Switch to water, diet soda or unsweetened tea.

3. Skipping breakfastRaises your risk: up to 50 percent How: Not having that morning meal increases the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin, making you hungrier and likely to eat more. The fix: Eat high-fiber cereal with low-fat milk and one-half cup of fruit in the morning. Consuming dairy products may also cut the risk for insulin resistance by 72 percent.

4. Bout of major depressionRaises your risk: 23 percent How: Depression may alter body chemistry in a way that makes us more prone to developing diabetes. The fix: Take a walk. Just 30 minutes, three times a week, has been shown to improve symptoms of depression.

5. A large waist — even if you're at a normal weightRaises your risk: 330 percent How: Fat in the abdomen produces compounds that make cells insulin-resistant. Women should keep their waist size below 35 inches (40 inches for men). The fix: 30 to 60 minutes of cardio, three to five times a week.

6. Waking up in the middle of the nightRaises your risk: 98 percent How: Not being able to stay asleep means you're not getting enough sleep, making you more prone to developing insulin resistance and leading to diabetes. The fix: No caffeine in the late afternoon and evening, and no TV and alcohol right before bed.

7. Eating fast food more than twice a weekRaises your risk: 100 percent How: People who ate burgers, fries and soda more than twice a week put on 10 extra pounds and were twice as likely to become resistant to insulin. The fix: Smaller portions.

8. High stressRaises your risk: 184 percent How: Stress can interfere with your ability to make insulin and process glucose. The fix: Allow 10 to 15 minutes a day to relax.

9. Consuming lots of processed meatRaises your risk: 43 percent How: These meats (such as hot dogs and bacon) are loaded with preservatives that may destroy insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. The fix: Cut back. A study found that women who had these meats less often than once a week had the lowest risk.

Sources: Fitness magazine, April 2007 issue, www.fitnessmagazine.com.