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This is an easy one for me, based completely on my medical situation. I have been a Type 1 diabetic since I was 12 years old. Now in my third decade of life, I wonder how many years have been shaved from my future because of my condition.

Back in the day, when my semi-accurate blood tests would take two minutes, I played a guessing game. Before taking one of 5 to 6 insulin injections, I would look at a meal, measure in my mind the approximate carbohydrate, protein and fat content and, for the lack of a better term, shoot up.

All non-diabetic humans have blood sugar levels that range between 65 and 100 mg/dl. Us Type 1 diabetics will go anywhere on the board. When I was diagnosed, my level was 497. We were expected to keep our blood sugar levels between 80 and 180. Anything below 80 was considered "low" and an immediate threat leading to convulsions and comas. Anything about could lead to kytoacidosis, which on a prolonged plain, would lead to all the issues related to diabetes: blindness, liver failure, kidney failure and limb amputations to name a few.

But with the evolution of technology, a greater level of research into the genetics of Type 1 diabetes and the understanding that a consistent exercise regimen could minimize the the adverse effects of diabetes, people have the opportunity to live longer and safer.

And now, the food industry has followed suit. We can look at the ingredients in a package of food and know exactly how it will affect our body. The additional information is used in many diets, replacing the guessing game with real fact.

Many fast food chains quickly jumped on the band wagon. Posted in framed lists at most of these restaurants are calorie counts, carb, protein and fats lists. This wasn't a mandate, it was business responding to the public need.

This also made it much easier for us diabetics, along with dieters and the health conscious, to gage what is going into their body and how to adapt. A revolution had started, bringing in the masses who wanted to live longer and stay healthy.

The final holdouts are the non-chain restaurants, the small "mom and pop" restaurants and many other small, medium and large, individualized locations.

Well, it seems to me that for the sake of the patrons, ingredient lists, carb counts, fat quantities and all the rest should be included with the price. I know, unless you're a diabetic or dietetic, this may not seem important.

But for me, my life depends on it. Maybe not my immediate life, but those years spent later down the road. Making it easier for mature people like me is only part of it. Making it easier for those young diabetics is the key.

My blood testing machine now gives me a perfect reading in five seconds. I can pick up a bag of rice and know exactly how much insulin to inject based on the amount of carbohydrates. I can turn down an extra-fatty meal for just a fatty meal.

Look around the grocery store the next time you are out. Look at the size of your fellow Americans. It is dangerous. It is time to act. You can't force people to make the right choices, but at least you can give them the necessary information to make a healthy decision.

Learn more about this author, Shaun Rogers.
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