Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes in the United States. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, which is present from birth and usually is diagnosed in children and teenagers, Type 2 diabetes develops in adulthood. That’s why it’s often called “adult-onset” diabetes. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body starts becoming resistant to insulin or if the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. This process starts slowly. In fact, many people don’t realize that they have diabetes until their symptoms spiral out of control. Some of the signs that you may have type 2 diabetes include increased thirst, blurred vision, increased hunger, sores that are slow to heal, and increased urination.

More than 30 million Americans have diabetes, and of that number, it’s estimated that 7.2 million (or 4.2 percent) are living with their diabetes undiagnosed.

Managing Your Type 2 Diabetes

There are lots of things that people can do to manage their Type 2 diabetes.

The first is being aware of the risk factors that make you more vulnerable to Type 2 diabetes. Being overweight and leading an inactive lifestyle are both big risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. Research has also shown that people who have a family history of this condition are more likely to be diagnosed with it themselves.

Once you’ve been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, it’s possible to manage your condition by making better lifestyle decisions, like eating healthy foods, being active at least 15 minutes per day, and losing weight. Medications will help, but lifestyle changes are key to preventing complications.

If you’re struggling with a recent diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, it may be helpful to know that there are tons of people around the world who have gotten the same diagnosis and thrived. Some of our favorite celebs manage their busy careers as well as their Type 2 diabetes. Here’s how they do it.

Tom Hanks

In 2013, Tom Hanks revealed that he had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. “I’m part of the lazy American generation that has blindly kept dancing through the party and now finds ourselves with a malady,” he says. He had been flirting with high blood sugar levels since he was 36 years old, and it took 20 years to progress from that to full-blown Type 2 diabetes. He takes ownership of his mistakes, especially since he noticed that he was getting heavier in his 40s and into his 50s but did nothing to change his poor eating habits.

Since his diagnosis, he lost a significant amount of weight and has been able to hit his doctor-recommended target weight. Along with wife Rita Wilson, he’s undertaken a new diet. They’ve both cut back on sugar and exercise every day — usually walking or hiking. Since they’ve made better food and exercise choices, they’ve both said that they feel healthier and more energetic.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry’s journey with diabetes has been confusing, especially to doctors.

In 1989, at the age of 22, Berry slipped into a diabetic coma for a week and afterward received a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. Later, she claimed that she was able to “cure” herself of Type 1 diabetes by weaning herself off her insulin, and now classifies herself as someone with Type 2 diabetes. Doctors contacted by ABC News (not Berry’s own doctors) confirmed that it’s impossible to cure yourself of Type 1 diabetes, and theorized that Berry’s original doctor simply misdiagnosed her after the coma.

Regardless of which type of diabetes Berry actually has, she’s spoken out publicly about her struggles to manage her condition. In 2018, she posted on Instagram urging all of her followers to try the ketogenic diet, claiming that this diet was what helped her “reverse” her Type 2 diabetes.

Randy Jackson

Randy Jackson was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2003, after a few weeks of flu-like symptoms that left him feeling exhausted. He has a family history of the condition — his father had it — and he grew up in the South, on a diet of unhealthy fried foods.

Since his diagnosis, he’s lost a lot of weight and has been very open about his health and how other people can learn from his mistakes. In an interview with Health, Jackson admits that he wasn’t going to the doctor much before his diagnosis, but afterward, he made a commitment to stay on top of his blood pressure and cholesterol levels. He also started working out every day, and with the help of gastric bypass surgery, lost a total of 130 pounds — almost a third of his body weight. He learned how to make healthier food choices, and even published a cookbook with his favorite healthy recipes.

Drew Carey

In 2010, comedian Drew Carey claimed that he was able to completely reverse his Type 2 diabetes without medication. Some people found his story a little bit too good to be true, but Carey claims that through only diet and exercise, he was able to completely eradicate his symptoms.

After he was diagnosed, Carey undertook a new exercise regiment, working out for 45 minutes six days a week with a personal trainer. He cut out carbs almost completely and replaced them with fruit, water, and lots of grilled chicken and non-starchy vegetables. He did this for seven months and dropped 80 pounds. He also took a “custom-made appetite suppressant” which was administered by a nutritionist. After the initial seven months, he transitioned to an easier exercise regime and has managed to maintain his weight loss. He says that 95 percent of the time, he’s able to stick to his healthy diet, but he does treat himself occasionally.

Sherri Shepherd

Sherri Shepherd, who appeared on sitcoms like 30 Rock and Everybody Loves Raymond before settling down as a host on The View, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2007. Her diagnosis came only a few days before she started on The View, and since then she’s spoken very openly about how she handles her condition. Many of her relatives had Type 2 diabetes, including her mother, who died at 41.

After her diagnosis, Shepherd immediately went on a strict diet and dropped from a size 16 to a size 4. Although she’s kept up her healthy eating habits, she started working with a nutritionist to create a meal plan for a more balanced diet, and now works out with a trainer three times per week. Now, she’s able to eat a piece of cake without her blood sugar going sky-high.