In order to clarify relevance between diabetes factors and lifestyle habits, we conducted a survey of the lifestyles, work conditions, and physical conditions of people who underwent annual employee checkups. Based on the survey, we performed a statistical analysis to find significant factors that could affect abnormal fasting glucose. The results of the Cox proportional hazard regression analysis indicated that high levels of BMI, systolic blood pressure, and ALT [GPT] were significantly related to abnormal fasting glucose. The following factors were also associated with abnormal fasting glucose: a) excessive alcohol intake for people under 40 years, b) high total cholesterol for women under 40 years, c) lack of breakfast for men under 40 years, d) inadequate physical exercise for men over 40 years, and e) low defecation frequency for women under 40 years. While men under 40 years whose bedtime was late had a higher probability of abnormal fasting glucose, women over 40 years whose bedtime was early had a higher probability of abnormal fasting glucose. This research showed that overeating and low physical activity unhealthy lifestyle habits were closely related to the abnormal fasting glucose level.
Therefore, we conclude that improving lifestyle habits would be important for Japanese people to prevent abnormal fasting glucose and diabetes.

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This health care reform aims to mandate health insurers to conduct specialized health examinations and health guidance, with a focus on metabolic syndrome, as part of new measures to counter life-style related diseases such as diabetes mellitus and to achieve changes in behavior to promote better health.
Previous output indicators, such as heath examinations and health advice, focused on the number of services conducted and the number of people covered. However, this time, outcome measures, such as 25% decrease of incidence of people and groups at risk of life-style related disease, along with decrease in the average number of days in hospital, are being used.
With regard to implementation, a number of adjustments will have to be made.
Health examinations based on the Industrial Safety and Health Law can be conducted in lieu of the specialized health examinations. However, at this stage, there is a great discrepancy between what is tested for. When considering the burden of workers (the insured), there is a need to make adjustments so there is no duplication. Also, there is a need to adjust specialized health advice and guidance provided by home practitioners.

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