I dont know a whole lot about it either, Sac_Mec.
But for what its worth, my diet was probably the absolute worst it could have been.
No breakfast, or if any, a small bottle of milk and a donut from the gas station weekday mornings on the way to work. That and coffee.
Lunch fast food. Usually Taco Bell or a cheeseburger or Pizza Hut or somesuch.
Dinner whatever I can find, sometimes skipping it altogether.
Then there was the high sugar content snacking, and the smoking.
The smoking part Im still trying to deal with, along with getting more exercise.
As I was talking about to a friend on the phone last night, I dont know how a McDonalds sandwich or any item from Taco Bell could possibly make it past the FDA! Common sense would indicate the rise in diabetes in this country could be blamed on too little real food and too much fast food. Once you start reading labels, even the stuff you by off of the shelf at the store is loaded with crap. Its cheap filler, making for high profit margin. To hell with what it does to the consumer, obviously.
Thing is, a change in diet and losing weight isnt that difficult.
From what Ive experienced, there seems to be a difference in the type of carbohydrates that you take in. Im no nutritionist, but my own observations are:
Fruits and some vegetables are loaded with natural sugars and carbs, but these dont seem to have the same effect (on ME) that carbs and sugars in processed foods do. By processed foods, I mean things like pasta, breads, any pre-made foods.
For example, one slice of Wonder white bread says it has 20 carbs and 2 sugars. The carbs also convert to sugars in the body, though. ONE slice of it was enough to jump me 20 points on the blood test. Two slices about 40 points. I wont do that again. And it takes MUCH longer for the level to go back down (without medication), than it takes to go back down with natural carbs/sugars. The potato itself is not an evil thing. Its what we do to them. I can eat a nice size baked potato, with a shot of fake butter spray and a touch of sour cream (moderation!) and only go up about 12 points or so. Then it falls off nicely.
Ive found I can have a plate of fresh fruits for breakfast, have a spike in sugars, but by noon and lunchtime, its back down to 100 or so and Im hungry again. I stop eating when Im full. I eat when my stomach rumbles, or I get dizzy.
As far as a pigging out test, which the doctor suggested, I have not done it and I WONT do it.
I have no desire for sweets anymore, with the exception of Hersheys Special Dark bars. But then again, we cant have everything. Theyre good for low-sugar crises, though.
God only knows what my numbers were a month ago, and frankly, I dont want to know. All I know is I felt like hell and didnt want to do anything.
(Had more of an analysis here, but the power went out and I lost it
recovered some).
In short, get up and move around. Stop eating junk. Get a little kid and a pet. Chase them around. Eat when youre hungry and by that, I mean when your stomach rumbles. Cut out anything processed, fast foods, and milk and bread. Eat only real food thats not in a box. I guarantee youll see a change in a week
or less. Look into a good vitamin supplement if you feel you need it. Consult your doctor, too, if you can find a good one.
So does fast food cause diabetes?
I dont know.
The case of the little boy down the road here, who didnt start puberty until he was 16 and never ate fast food at all, and who couldnt have been more active and had a better diet, came down with Type 1 and landed in the hospital right out of the blue. In fact, he almost died. The only thing was his paternal Grandma was Type 2, needing the occasional pill to control it.
Is there a link between late puberty or lack of testosterone?
I dont know.
But why is it on such a rise?
I dont know that either.
A-1 
Hope you're feeling brighter and stronger again Paolo.