Opinion

Q: Both my parents have Type 2 diabetes. I'm 17 and want to avoid it. Any new tips on what might help? -- Franco T., Birmingham, Alabama A: There are some new insights that may help you dodge Type 2 diabetes but the long-standing advice about getting at least 300 minutes of physical activity a week, avoiding highly processed foods, added sugars and syrups, and red and processed meats, plus getting seven servings a day of fruits and vegetables is very effective.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'd like to have your thoughts on what value the NAC supplement may have for reducing cravings for marijuana or nicotine? I'm 73 and have been smoking marijuana daily since I was 21.

Q: I'm bewildered by the B vitamins.I have Type 2 diabetes and elevated LDL cholesterol, so what ones should pay special attention to? -- Fred T., Stuart, Florida A: There are eight B vitamins, and they help keep your metabolism healthy, create blood cells, maintain your nervous system and brain, and protect your DNA and RNA. Recently three Bs -- folate (B9), B12 and B6 -- have been shown to protect you from heart woes and help with managing diabetes.

Dear Amy: Every year I spend the holidays at my sister’s house. The past couple of years have been a little crazy for us.

Dear Amy: I ended a long and terrible marriage with an addict a couple of years ago. The marriage was over for a long time but because of debt and the pandemic, it took us a lot longer than I wanted for the marriage to finally be done.

DEAR DR. ROACH: For over 20 years, I have experienced difficulty with getting enough sleep at night. I typically get between five and six hours of sleep per night. I fall asleep quickly at about 10 p.m., but wake up between 3:30 a.m. and 5 a.m., unable to fall back asleep.

Dear Amy: I believe that my 45-year-old husband is having a midlife crisis, abusing drugs, cheating - or possibly all three. We have been married for 15 years.

Q: My wife and I (we’re 34 and 36) have decided to take better care of our health and want to start with an all-around medical checkup. What should we ask the doctor to look at? -- Lamar T., Phoenix A: That’s a smart New Year’s resolution! Here’s a rundown of tests and screeening procedures that can complement a basic physical exam (cough!).

Dear Amy: I recently did DNA ancestry testing, hoping to locate relatives of my father, who died when I was very young. To my surprise I found out that I have a niece.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently got a blood transfusion, and I've never had the COVID vaccine.