Ed Kubo Jr. has a high-stress job that often keeps him working into the early hours of the morning. But Hawai'i's U.S. attorney still makes time to educate himself about his type 2 diabetes — and also uses a Web site to help track his blood glucose levels.

Kubo does not have to inject himself with insulin, like his father, and wants to keep it that way.

"It crossed my mind that I could get insulin dependent," the younger Kubo said. "Once I started reading up on it and educating myself a little bit more, I understood that if you are careful and able to keep your blood levels in check, you can avoid insulin dependency."

Kubo also connects his blood glucose meter to a Web site, diabetese.com, which helps him track his glucose levels and provide a record for his physician.

"You can record your blood sugars and put down notes like, 'too much ice cream,' " Kubo said. "After a while, you start recognizing the signs, and that helps a lot in educating yourself about your body, educating yourself about what types of foods will affect you. It will give you a guideline as to when you're low or when you're high."

Kubo, 55, started noticing a change in 2005 at the age of 52.

"I was wondering why I felt so exhausted in the mornings, and at certain times I would just be very thirsty," he said. "I thought I was reaching a stage of my life after 50 when I was starting to go downhill, just old age."

But a checkup revealed elevated glucose levels, and Kubo was considered pre-diabetic until he was diagnosed with type 2 in February 2006.

"I didn't exercise," he said. "I stay up doing homework until sometimes 1:30 in the morning. It doesn't lead to a very healthy lifestyle. ... I started reading up on diabetes and became more involved in learning what the challenge was to me. I learned what the culprits are: carbs. Us Japanese, we love our rice, huh? Now when I go to the buffets, this rice is just for a taste, just a taste. I love hash browns, baked potatoes, but now it's all just to taste. The carbs are just for flavor in my mouth."

Same for desserts.

"I may order a scoop of ice cream for myself, but I may only have two teaspoons just for the taste," Kubo said. "Then I give it to my wife or I push it away."

Kubo's waist has stretched from a size 38 seven years ago to a size 42 now, and he knows he has to be more consistent with his exercise.

"I used to joke with people that whenever I felt like exercise, I would quickly lie down until the feeling passed," he said. "But if I was to give people a message, it's that diabetes may be involved in your life, but you don't have to let it take you over. Even though you're a person with diabetes, you can run your life and you can be productive and be constructive and full of energy and conquer all forms of challenges."